Paul Walmsley is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool, specialising in Children’s Rights within the School of Law & Social Justice. Working alongside esteemed academics like Professors Helen Stalford and David Taylor Robinson, Paul’s research focuses on supporting marginalised communities. He is the founder and manager of the Young Persons Advisory Group (YPAG) and the Youth & Civic Partnership Broker, roles that bridge the gap between academia and the community to ensure research and social justice initiatives meet local needs. Co-founding The Social Brokers CIC marks the culmination of over a decade of frontline work with vulnerable young people, including roles as Tutor and Pastoral Lead at Jamie Carragher’s Sports & Learning Academy, Pastoral Lead with the Weapons Down Gloves Up project, and Recruitment and Mentor Lead with Nobody Left Behind CIC. In 2023, Paul also worked as a Key Youth Outreach Worker for Sefton Council’s Turnaround Project, bringing a trauma-informed perspective to his work with disadvantaged young people. Paul’s lived experience has shaped his approach to supporting young people, while his qualifications, including a BA Honours in Psychology & Counselling (Open University), a Higher Diploma in Humanistic Counselling, and a Higher Diploma in Events Management, have helped him design impactful and practical projects. He is also a published author and a lecturer in Forensic and Applied Psychology at several universities across the North West. Paul first met Peter Owens through the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership and later collaborated with him at Nobody Left Behind. Their shared values and vision for creating opportunities have enabled them to quickly mobilise their networks to support the goals of The Social Brokers CIC.