Thrive is made up of a team of brilliant people, each bringing their own passion and experience to help fulfil Thrive’s vision to enable effective outreach and discipleship in Leamington and Warwick, and the surrounding area.
Andy Castle, CEO and Youth Ministry Adviser
Andy founded Thrive in 2011, having spent two years with CPAS as a national adviser on youth ministry. He has many years of youth ministry experience and thinks there is nothing better than helping a young person to discover the love, forgiveness, and freedom that God offers them. His desire is to invest in youth leaders, to keep them growing and to see more young people come to faith.
He enjoys a good meal with friends, live music and watching movies with a plot twist. Andy is married to Caroline, and they have three children. As a Spurs fan, he is used to the ups and downs of life!
Fiona Stutton, Children’s Ministry Adviser
Fiona is passionate about children hearing the gospel and loves opportunities to do just that. She has years of experience in children’s ministry, having worked in churches across England as well as leading missions in South Africa. Fiona runs One Way UK’s Puppet Academy team in the summer, choreographing and teaching puppeteers across the country ready to perform at the European Puppet Ministry Festival in the Autumn.
In her spare time, she likes to travel, walk in the countryside, do cross stitch, watch films, and catch up with friends. Her favourite chocolate is Cadbury’s.
Fiona’s role with Thrive is to support, train and equip churches to enhance their children’s ministry helping run Sunday morning sessions, all age worship, after school clubs, and Messy Church.
Ryan McNair and James Yates, Youth Mission Enablers 
James and Ryan are youth mission enablers, helping churches rethink their ministry with young people and bringing ideas and assistance in revitalising youth ministry.
Ryan has spent the past 11 years in youth ministry with a church in Newcastle upon Tyne where he had the opportunity to start new projects and see young people come to know and love God. He has a passion for building meaningful relationships and investing in discipleship relationships with young people. Ryan has studied at Tilsley College and Cliff College.
In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing and watching football (especially Scotland!) as well as cooking, walking, and reading.
James has worked with young people since he was a young person and has previously worked across churches and youth clubs in Northamptonshire. He is passionate about seeing churches of all shapes and sizes with thriving youth ministry and has a particular interest in small rural churches. He is currently researching a professional doctorate in practical theology on rural youth ministry.
In his spare time, he enjoys live comedy and music, playing the bass guitar and watching rugby.
Get in touch with Ryan
Get in touch with James
Thrive’s board of trustees
The board exists to: fulfil the legal requirements of the Charities Commission and the Thrive Youth Ministries deed of covenant; to provide appropriate governance in matters such as ministry, finance, human resources and child protection; and to provide accountability of the strategic vision, goals and direction of Thrive Youth Ministries.
Currently, the board is made up of people who serve on a voluntary basis from Anglican, Baptist, and Independent church contexts, all offering various skill sets. The trustees believe in what God is calling Thrive to do and alongside the legal responsibility, are passionate to support Andy and the team at Thrive to fulfil its vision. They meet for board meetings seven times a year, with one of these meetings being a prayer and vision day, and often help at events run by Thrive.