Young Farmers' Clubs Of Ulster

Having previously worked for the Ulster Farmers' Union for 21 years, most recently as their Membership & Events Director, Derek's experience has been hugely beneficial to our growing organisation. Derek oversees the work in our Headquarters office and is the key driver in our strategic plan, managing operations, resources and staff. Derek works to drive his vision for YFCU, which is to be the go-to organisation for all young people who live in rural communities in Northern Ireland. Outside of work, Derek volunteers with the Mae Murray Foundation where he is Vice Chairperson and he also holds the role of Chairperson in Rural Support. He is actively involved with Larne Rugby Football Club, where he is currently the Vice President and plays for the 3rd XV.

​With degree qualifications in Engineering with Marketing, Management and Human Resources, Ruth makes a brilliant Business Services Manager at YFCU. Joining the organisation as an Analyst in May 2021, Ruth was soon appointed to Assistant Manager of Business Services and then promoted to Business Services Manager. She works closely with the whole team, ensuring the continual progression and development of our organisation and oversees daily operations and IT. Ruth is also our Designated Safeguarding Officer. A travel enthusiast, Ruth always likes to have a holiday booked so she can explore new countries and destinations, and enjoys listening to live music and reading in her spare time. Interestingly, Ruth also has a degree in Off-Road Vehicle Design, but we haven't found a use for this at YFCU just yet!

Kirsty leads on all things finance in YFCU. Her experience in finance comes from her background with PricewaterhouseCoopers before joining the YFCU in 2012. Kirsty's role involves the planning and reporting of all finances to the Board of Directors, managing budgets and staff payroll. She also oversees and supports the submission of club accounts in line with our audit requirements. Member of the YFCU Management Committee, Kirsty also is our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer. Outside of work life, Kirsty loves the outdoors and enjoys everything from long hill walks, gardening and travelling the World with her family.

Hayley joined the YFCU HQ team as an Events coordinator in April 2022 before being promoted to Assistant Events Manager. Hayley qualified with a first class honours degree in Leisure and Events Management and brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. Her attention to detail and problem-solving ability is second to none. Her responsibilities involve the planning, running and evaluation of our events and competitions calendar, and liaising with club officials, grassroot members, sponsors and judges. Hayley feeds information to the Events team from our Programme & Development Committee and leads on many projects. When not at work, Hayley loves to spend time with family and friends and going on long beach walks with her German Shepherd dog, Bow.

With a degree in Agricultural Technology and a current member of Bleary YFC, Sarah has all the knowledge when it comes to farming and rural youth. Sarah joined the team at Headquarters in October 2022 and deals with any enquiries regarding membership, looks after existing memberships and club development, offering her assistance to clubs that struggle with membership retention. She also coordinates the Member of the Year and Club of the Year competitions, Top Official awards and sits on our AERA committee, providing feedback to the rest of the HQ team. When not at work, Sarah enjoys milking the cows on her Father’s dairy farm and going for walks with her dog, Sam.

A past member of Moneyrea YFC, Kirsty returned to the organisation in March 2024 by joining our Events team. Her roles and responsibilities involve the organising and running of our busy events and competitions programme. Bringing lots of new ideas, determination and energy, Kirsty’s get-go attitude has been a great asset to the YFCU Headquarters team. A mother of two and lover of dogs, Kirsty enjoys listening to live music and is a passionate foodie who enjoys exploring different types of cuisine at the weekends. She is currently studying an open degree through the Open University, which is covering Business Management, Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities. 

Rachel's creativity and brand building experience has transformed the look of our organisation. Taking care of our social media, traditional press, magazine, sponsorship deals and managing the website, Rachel maintains our online presence and keeps us bold and engaging. Qualified with a Marketing degree and with years of experience in Marketing, Communications and PR, Rachel's passion for growing our organisation can be seen from she began working with us in March 2024. Outside of work life, Rachel volunteers her time with 1st Clogher Girl Guides where she is an Assistant Leader and with Clogher Valley Rugby Football Club where she is the Public Relations Officer. Living in a rural area herself, she enjoys time spent with her family and supporting her Husband on the farm.

Helen joined YFCU in April 2024, sharing her passion for working with young people and love for the farming community, with the wider team. Helen has lots of qualifications relating to her job role, including an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Business and Administration, an OCR Level 2 in Computerised Book-Keeping and Accounting Skills, and an IAB Level 2 Award in Computerised Payroll. Helen supports Kirsty and Ruth by managing accounts, providing support for Club and County Treasurers and providing finance and administrative assistance for daily operations. She also serves as the Duke of Edinburgh contact and oversees the AQA qualifications. A busy Mum of three children, Helen cherishes time spent with her young family, embarking on new adventures, helping her Husband on the farm and going on trips in the caravan.