Melissa Thomas – Lead Youth Worker

Melissa Thomas is the Lead Youth Worker at The Hut, where she supports young people to feel heard, valued, and empowered within their community. She is currently in her second year at Marjon University studying Youth and Community Work. Before joining The Hut, Melissa worked with families in Cornwall within children’s social care, gaining valuable experience supporting young people and their families through a range of challenges.

Melissa is particularly passionate about amplifying the voices of rural young people, who are often overlooked in policy and decision-making. She believes young people are the future and deserve as much support as possible to help them overcome barriers and thrive in adulthood. Melissa loves that no two days at The Hut are ever the same.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys baking cakes and once ran a small business selling homemade birthday cakes. She’s a fan of rock and metal music and enjoys gaming on Xbox, with the Borderlands series among her favourite games. Melissa has a Springer Spaniel called Luna, who occasionally visits The Hut.

Ellie Bennett – Youth Worker

Ellie Bennett is a Youth Worker at The Hut and is currently in her second year at Marjon University studying Youth and Community Work. Before joining the team, Ellie worked as a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teaching Assistant, where she gained valuable experience supporting young people with a range of additional needs in educational settings.

Ellie particularly enjoys recognising the unique strengths in every young person she works with and helping them discover their spark and build confidence in themselves. She is also a strong advocate for youth work as a profession and enjoys challenging the misconception that youth workers “just play pool,” often explaining the wide range of support, advocacy, and opportunities youth work provides.

Outside of youth work, Ellie loves spending time outdoors, whether that’s hiking up tors or going wild swimming. If she isn’t outside, you’ll likely find her at a sweaty gig enjoying the energy of live music.

Nick Law – Head of Trustees

Nick Law is the Head of Trustees at The Hut and the vicar in Bere Alston, known as “Nick the Vic.” He founded Youth 2 Youth in 1999 and often pops in during sessions to chat with staff and young people.

Nick’s vision is to bridge the gap between primary school and adulthood within the village, supporting young people as they transition from the local primary school to secondary settings outside the village.

The Hut was established to help maintain those relationships, ensuring young people continue to feel supported as they grow.

Although Nick is a vicar, The Hut is not faith-based. When he isn’t at the youth club, Nick enjoys spending time in church or with his wife and grandchildren.