Amplify is a training and development consultancy led by Tom Burke. Founded in 2003, amplify provides services primarily to the voluntary sector with a focus on children and youth issues both in the UK and in the Global South.
Tom has an extensive history of personal, professional and voluntary work with children and young people and the wider voluntary sector. From a child involved in youth work and global child rights advocacy, he developed skills and experience as a practitioner and advocate. He can bring this mix of experiences into work as a trainer, writer and consultant.
Most recently, Tom was Deputy Chief Executive at Y Care International, the international development agency of the YMCA movement. He led their International Citizen Service youth volunteering programme, safeguarding & security, global youth work, policy & advocacy and financial management. Working part-time this was balanced with a range of freelance projects.
Previously, Tom grew up in the youth and child rights movement. As a young activist, he was a member of the steering group of the Child Rights Caucus at the UN Special Session on Children and director of social enterprise ‘Young People Change the World’. He was engaged in local youth participation initiatives creating platforms for young people to be heard or to access services, including in sexual health and children in care. Tom was Chair of Trustees of youth-focussed international development charity Peace Child International.
He was previously Senior Policy and Change Officer at the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, where he specialised in children’s participation rights, undertaking policy analysis, Parliamentary lobbying and campaigning for change.
Over the past 15 years, he has undertaken consultancy for a range of clients on projects ranging from safeguarding, inclusion, evaluation and research projects, training and direct delivery.