Remembering Simon Jaquet

It was with great sadness that we learned that Simon Jaquet, our 1st CEO, died last week.

Simon was instrumental in setting Fast Forward up in 1987, and in it becoming a respected and valued national youth work organisation.

He moved from Fast Forward in 2001 to take up the role of Chief Executive of YouthLink Scotland, and was part of the third sector in Scotland for 40 years, as a youth worker, manager, volunteer, chief executive, and board member.

Allie Cherry-Byrnes, our current CEO, paid tribute to Simon and his contribution to youth work in Scotland;

“I met Simon, shortly after taking up the role of CEO in May 2020, he had a tradition of taking the CEOs who succeeded him out for lunch every now and then, to share his knowledge of the organisation and it’s work, and to find out what new projects were developing.

Simon’s role at Fast Forward was invaluable enabling it to grow and develop from a Scottish Youth Club Association project focusing on raising awareness of young people across Edinburgh of street drugs and related harms to a valued and respected national youthwork organisation.

He established our mantra of supporting young people to make informed decisions and towards positive destinations.

He will be a great loss to youth work and the voluntary sector across Scotland, our thoughts are with Simon’s family & friends.”