National Youth Work Week. Meet Claire
How did you get started in youth work?
I attended Creative Youth Development (which was called Wirral Youth Theatre at the time) as a young person at the age of 13 and have never left since! I got involved in the dance sessions and became a peer educator helping on all the different groups and fell in love with youth work and using arts to work with young people and build confidence. I went to university and got qualified in dance and youth work and started my role as a youth worker with Creative Youth Development Team in 2012 and 10 years later still love what I do! I have recently just graduated with my Masters and achieved my JNC in youth work.
What is your role and how do you support young people?
My role is a Youth Arts Worker, focusing on using dance to explore issues and themes, whilst building confidence, self-esteem and developing resilience. I am also part of the participation and engagement team focusing on youth voice and ensuring young people can have their say on issues that affect them. I work on the youth parliament events both locally and nationally, working with our members of youth parliament ensuring young people have a safe platform to have a voice.
What skills do you feel youth workers bring to supporting young people and how does it differ from other forms of support?
Youth work is person-centred and therefore focuses on the person as an individual and aims to support young people to develop and thrive no matter of their background. Youth workers offer a safe space for young people to be themselves with no judgement and aim to develop skills through various interactive groups and activities for all learning styles.
What impact do you think youth workers have with young people?
Youth workers are positive role models for young people – I know from being a young person accessing the service that my youth workers inspired and encouraged me to pursue my goals and now I hope I can and am giving back to the young people I work with. Youth workers are the people that don’t give up on you, even when you feel like giving up and are always there to challenge and support through life’s challenges.
How do you see youth work evolving over the coming years?
I see youth work being the catalyst for young people’s voices being heard and taken seriously. Putting youth voice on a platform so young people have a say on decisions being made, locally and nationally. Continue to bring communities together and create opportunities for young people to achieve their goals.
How do you feel youth workers can support other teams within children’s and wider services?
As youth workers we are trained to think outside of the box – we offer creative ways to explore themes and issues than traditional ways. Youth work engages with young people from all backgrounds and ensures all young people receive equal opportunity and a place to be themselves and receive support.
What issues facing children and families currently/ in the future do you see youth workers playing a key role in supporting them through?
Within the world we are in there are many issues young people and families are facing that are too many to list here. However, youth work is essential is developing young people’s resilience and to understand their rights. Providing a safe space for young people to express themselves, have a voice and someone to talk to!