Our Staff and Volunteers

Rachel Robinson (Senior Administrator)

Rachel Robinson. Born and educated in Brighton, England, Rachel has travelled a lot but most recently moved from Cyprus to NI in 2011 with her husband Pete (from NI) and their 3 children who are now aged 20, 18 & 16 and their 2 dogs.

Rachel joined Youth Lyric in April 2017 but has a worked as a PA / Secretary / Administrator / Event planner for many years, in both large and small organisations, in a variety of work sectors; such as BT, Health & Safety Consultancy, and Retail. She is a co-ordinator for a busy Mums & Toddler group and has run childrens holiday clubs and summer events in her spare time. She is very organised and loves the buzz of working as part of the team at Youth Lyric.

Jackie Fisher (Antrim Outreach
Coordinator)

Jackie qualified from the University of Northumbria in 1996 with an honours degree in Consumer Sciences and went on to complete her teaching qualification at the University of Ulster in 1997. In the same year, she joined the Home Economics Department of Antrim Grammar School as teacher of Home Economics and Health & Social Care and has been teaching there for 21 years now. In 2010 she completed her Diploma in Educational Management with Special Needs. Jackie is also a Director on the Board of Women’s Aid, ABCLN and is a volunteer at The Children’s Contact Centre, Antrim. She is also married, has two teenage boys and three little pooches whom she loves to walk!

As Jackie is past pupil of Antrim Grammar School she is passionate about supporting local children and young people in the surrounding areas. Building confidence and resilience are skills that she works on developing each day in the classroom. Youth Lyric, she believes, provides a different, informal and safe setting to help develop these skills. Jackie has had lots of experience in events management and she managed the work experience scheme in 6^th form for almost 10 years. Although very new to the Youth Lyric team, having only joined in April 2018, she is really looking forward to a very exciting year, supporting Joanna, Lynne, the children and their parents at Antrim Youth Lyric as they prepare to present their Showcase in February 2019 at The Old Courthouse, Antrim.

Naomi Robinson (Assistant Administrator)

Naomi Robinson moved to NI from Cyprus when she was 9 years old. In her last year at senior school she attending Youth Lyric and achieved a Grade 8 Distinction from Trinity College in Speech and Drama.

After finishing school where she achieved 9 GCSE’s and 3 A levels she worked lots of jobs to raise enough funds to travel to Australia for 6 months as a volunteer for a Charity. She returned home during Lockdown and now works as a classroom assistant in a special needs school.  She loves paddle boarding, watching movies, baking, attending church and walking her cockapoo Zena.

She is now assistant administrator and is responsible for some classes at Stranmillis College and Strandtown.

Lisa Bates (Assistant Administrator)

Lisa has over 30 years administration experience working in the construction, accountancy and legal industries combined. She has held her current position as Office Manager in FRKelly Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys for over 20 years. During her time there, she sat and passed The Irish Trade Mark exams, qualifying as a European Trade Mark Attorney. In the past years she has taken in the role of filing Patent Validations at the Irish and UK Patent Offices.

Lisa heads up 4U2, a Group which meets for Adults with Learning Disabilities and runs a varied programme throughout the year for the members. She loves the theatre and spent a lot of time both in the auditorium and backstage at GOH thanks to her brother who worked there!

Lisa adores the beach and at weekends can often be found sea swimming. She loves family, food and a good book!

Katie Lawther (Assistant Administrator)

Katie Lawther is a teacher of English and RE in Cullybackey College. She is involved in providing admin support to the growing Youth Lyric group there and enjoys being a part of the creative and ambitious work the students do. She became involved as a way to build positive relationships with pupils outside of the classroom and loves the positive benefits the arts bring to the school community.

Outside of the classroom, Katie loves a trip to an NI coffee shop for a flat white and a sweet treat, a walk at the North Coast, and an afternoon with a good book!

Caryle Ann Townsend (Assistant Administrator)

My name is Caryle Ann Townsend. I am married and have three children. I have two boys and one girl. I work as a learning support assistant in a High school.

In my spare time I love to go on walks with my family and spending quality time with them as making memories is the best thing about being a parent.

Aimee Hayes (Volunteer)

Aimee is a mum of 2 children and started volunteering as admin support for Youth Lyric after her son attended classes. Recently Aimee has started volunteering in classes with the tutors as she loves working with children and being part of the students journey in learning skills and gaining confidence week by week.

Aimee enjoys being in the outdoors, taking walks in forests or on beaches. In 2022 she went back to college to do an Access into university course and has applied to do childrens nursing at QUB for this academic year. Her work background has been looking after people from newborns to 96 year olds as she loves spending time and having a positive impact on people around her.

Indie Gilbert (Student Volunteer)

Indie is currently a Queens Film and Theatre student. She has been at Youth Lyric since the age of 4 and has progressed through all classes and grades, achieving Grade 8 in June 2024. She has also featured in a short film soon to be released. She is excited to be joining the Orangfield team.

Chris Cairns (Student Volunteer)

Chris is currently studying Film and Production at Queens University , starting his second year there. He enjoys producing films, writing scripts and acting in productions as well.

He would like to volunteer to help kids who haven’t quite built up their confidence or skills yet and to allow them to flourish in their acting abilities. He would also love to see the film industry in Northern Ireland thrive in the future, knowing how the whole Arts industry suffered during Covid.

In his free time he enjoys going to the cinema to support the films that are being released, as well as going there just to relax.

Megan Clarke (Student Volunteer)

My name is Megan Clarke, I am sixteen years old, year thirteen and currently studying at Antrim Grammar School. I am interested in volunteering with the Antrim junior youth lyric group as I have previously helped out with this group before and enjoyed teaching and assisting them. I have been attending youth lyric since and have a lot of experience with the company. I am currently studying performing arts A-Level and last year I completed my GCSE drama making me quite qualified in the acting department. 

Sarah McComb (Student Volunteer)

I am studying Primary education with a drama specialism at Stranmillis and I am in my final year. I have always been involved in drama throughout primary school and secondary school, taking part in school shows, choirs and orchestra. I have been a member of Lisnagarvey Operatic Society from the age of 9 taking part in the youth shows, spring shows and the yearly Pantomime.

In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym, spending time with my family, going to support Lisburn Rugby Club and going for coffee with my friends.

I really enjoying supporting children to build up their confidence and show off their creativity and talents.

Jed Wright (Student Volunteer)

Jed is currently studying for A-Levels at Antrim Grammar School where he is a keen drama student. Having completed GCSE Drama last year, he is continuing to develop his acting skills as he works towards A-Level Performing Arts.
Jed has participated in various drama and film courses, most recently the BFI Film Academy where he was involved in all aspects of creating and producing a short film.

During this course he attended workshops and masterclasses with professional actors and directors and gained valuable experience as an Extra in an upcoming Cinemagic production.

Jed attends Youth Lyric where he also enjoys supporting younger students and hopes that he might play a part in them following their dreams.

Gabi Fojut (Duke of Edinburgh Volunteer)

Hi, my name is Gabi and I’m 15 years old. I’m currently doing my drama GCSE at Victoria College after doing lessons at Youth Lyric for 3 years I decided to try volunteering there for my Duke of Edinburgh course and after I completed it I picked to continue volunteering and helping the younger classes.

Molly Kirkpatrick (Student Volunteer)

I am currently studying drama, English literature and history in sixth form. I joined Youth Lyric shortly after lockdown and I have been working through the grades and I aim to achieve my grade 8 in 2025! I volunteer with children twice a week, I love helping them knowing that it could impact them later in life