“I had the privilege of working with Lee on several occasions working in a mainstream education setting where she delivered a series of workshops on sexual health and substance misuse to secondary school age pupils as well as in an alternative provision centre for excluded pupils. Something I respect in Lee is her ability to tailor material specifically - to suit a variety of learning abilities and to make it both accessible and appropriate to age.

Aside from her capability of creating and planning relevant resources and material, Lee must be commended for her personal qualities of empathy and absolute sensitivity. Lee is able to display sympathy without condescension, constructively providing support and accessing external agencies when the necessity calls. Lee's real strength lies in her ability to build relationships with the young people and adults with whom she works quickly and effectively. This singular skill is one which enables her to work efficiently and creates a culture of openness and honesty. Working in an environment where youth workers are often reaching out to some of the most marginalised and vulnerable young people in society, this is a highly respectable skill. At all times Lee is approachable and amicable but above all, she is consistently professional and always works within bespoke frameworks, continuing to update on safeguarding and child protection policies and laws.

During her time running a sexual health and relationships project for young carers, I witnessed first-hand the difference Lee made to the life of a pupil I was teaching. It is no exaggeration that Lee altered the course of that young person's life for the better through her ability to connect with individuals and treat them as such, she was able to recognise the various issues that affected that young person in that circumstance. Lee invested her own time and expertise to go above and beyond to make a positive difference.

I believe that youth work and supporting youth practitioners is Lee's true vocation. It has been an absolute pleasure to watch her in her field over the years and I cannot recommend her highly enough.

— Anna-Marie Carroll (Secondary School Educator & Academic)

“I have had the pleasure of working with Lee Ritchie in the youth sector for nearly twenty years. During that time I have watched her design and deliver quality projects for young people that support them to realise their full potential. Back in 2004, Lee and I worked closely together on a Coventry City Council funded media arts project called Media Mania. Many years later I set this project up as a separate company and in recent years Lee has supported the strategic development of our youth organisation which has been invaluable to the company and the young people in Coventry.”

— D. Mills (Director of youth arts organisation)