50 Anlaby Road, Hull, HU1 2PD   |   Tel: 01482 310690
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The Trustees

NAPA is governed by a board of voluntary trustees who are responsible for ensuring the charity is continually meeting its aims and objectives.

Board of Trustees  

Jules Blenkarn – Chair Jules joined the Board in 2023 as Chair and is  a National Procurement Manager currently working for the UK based charity Change Grow Live. Prior to this she’s held senior leadership positions working within the Construction Industry and the NHS where she has procured and project managed a number of major capital project schemes as well as delivering smaller refurbishment and renovation programmes on schools, hospitals and heritage buildings. Jules has a particular interest in Stakeholder management and believes that partnership working leads to greater innovation and collaboration. As well as her role as Chair of the Board of Trustees, Jules is also a Licenced Child Chaperone and has worked extensively within the film and TV industry, most recently working with Netflix and Apple TV where she chaperoned our own NAPA children whilst working on film production sets in Hull.

Jules speaks very passionately about NAPA and believes strongly, that every child matters and that we’re changing lives here on a daily basis, supporting and empowering young people to gain skills, resilience and empathy in the industry of performing arts whilst creating a fun and safe environment.

Jules is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and holds a degree in Business & Finance. She lives in East Yorkshire with her husband and son who also attends Napa as well as their dog, Macintosh.

Naomi Bedworth – Vice Chair Naomi joined the Board of Trustees at NAPA in 2015. Her children attended the school for many years. More recently she too has enrolled as a student here. Naomi brings experience of the education and voluntary/ charity sector management to the Board. An experienced fundraiser and strategic planner, Naomi not only brings a professional but a parental perspective to the Board. “NAPA has been a second home for me and my children. The opportunities they are given are second to none, and with the quality and enthusiasm they receive from the teaching staff here it is easy to understand why they place it with such high value in their lives.”  

Gail Farrington Gail is a Barrister working for Wilberforce Barristers in Hull as an expert in family law, a former solicitor with over 20 years of experience. Gail is delighted to have joined the Board of Trustees in March 2024.

Chris Gruca Chris joined the Board of Trustees at NAPA in 2017. He brings experience of the performing arts and education sectors to the Board. He currently works freelance in the arts and for Theatre On The Edge and was formerly Head of Performing Arts at a Hull-based Sixth Form College. “NAPA offers people of all ages opportunities and experiences to develop a range of performance skills and to improve their confidence. It is an asset to the city of Hull.”  

Keith Butler Keith joined the Board in 2022. Keith was previously employed at The University of Hull where he was responsible for Business Partnerships. He also lectured in employee relations and organisational behaviour. Latterly, he was elected as Branch President for the academic trade union and is currently a consultant on employment issues. Keith is passionate about the arts and NAPA’s role in nurturing the stars of tomorrow and building confidence in young people. He was an active parent at NAPA for over 20 years.

Sam Kind
Sam joined the Board in 2023. His first involvement with NAPA was eight years ago when his daughter attended a Summer School here when she was 7. What has struck him most about NAPA is that “children from all over the area can come here, fit right in and make new friendships with children they wouldn’t otherwise meet. They learn so much through taking part in the productions. NAPA does so much to equip our young people with the skills they need in the wider world.”

He is an experienced Financial Controller with a history of working in the not for Profit and public sectors. Among his recent roles, he was Reporting Accountant for Hull 2017, Head of Finance at Absolutely Cultured and Financial Controller for Pickering and Ferens Homes. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a trustee of the City of Hull Brass Band