It's Youth Work Week in Wales and it's time to
celebrate the postive impact youth work has on our lives. We've been
asked "What's your youth work story?", so some of us just wanted
to let you know about our personal experiences of youth work and how it has
helped us ....
Emily: I've
been involved in youth work for 6 years and it has given me the opportunity to
represent my local area to local, national and international
decision-makers. I've had the chance to travel across Europe and
meet lots of new people and friends. I am now able to facilitate
workshops and training to young people and professionals on a variety of issues
and it has given me the passion to fight for young people's voices to be heard!
Erin: Youth
work has made me happy. I'm proud of myself and
my friends because we work together to make a change in young
people's lives locally. I can now create session plans and deliver
workshops and I know how important children's rights
are.
Daniel: Over the past couple of years I have been involved with many projects that have been championed by Youth Workers; these include the Rights Ambassador project, D of E, Vale Youth Forum and Cabinet, not forgetting VOG Youth Mayor as well! All of these projects have been outstanding examples of good practices by the dedicated and simply wonderful Youth Workers, who on a daily basis have enriched not only my life, but the lives of many young people right across the county. Youth Work has enabled me to do things that before I would have never done; Youth Work has provided me with many opportunities that I would have thought as impossible, Youth Work has equipped me with the skills to succeed in life, and to top it all of Youth Work has given me many new friends and memories. I could go on further about the positive impact Youth Work has had on my life yet the list would be endless!
Ellis: Youth
work has increased my confidence so much that I can speak infront of people now
without vomiting! I have developed my public speaking skills and now
have the skills to be Vice Chair of the Vale Youth Forum, deliver assemblies
and as a Young Inspector inspect young people's services to award
them with the Children and young People's Participation Kitemark for
Wales.
Daley: I've
been involved with the youth service since September 2014 when I
joined Barry Youth Action and I've had so many
opportunities. I've joined the Vale Youth Forum and I'm now part of the
Vale of Glamorgan Youth Cabinet and going to Belgium in July to meet
Youth Councils from across Europe. I've been trained as a Young
Commissioner to help deliver a new Emotional Health & Wellbeing
service for young people locally and I've meet the Queen and Prince
Charles. I love being a Youth Councillor and attending meetings
because I am improving things for young people, we even have a joke
and the youth workers like Bethan ,Geraint, Conway and Ve are fantastic in
helping me! It's not too much either, just one meeting a month.
It's fun and I like a debate so positive all round. I now have the
opportunity to be Youth Mayor in October and I'm sure everyone would like to
take up that opportunity. I've developed loads of new skills and
it's very interesting because you find out information that nobody else would
know about yet. Youth work is a fantastic service!
Kyle: Youth
work has given me the confidence to meet new people, gain qualifications and
teach children, young people and professionals about the UNCRC. I've
started to help people whereas before I was doing nothing.
Emme: I've
attended youth clubs, I've been a Young Inspector, a member of the Vale Youth
Forum and the first Youth Cabinet and I did my 6th form work
experience with the Youth Service. I've had so many opportunities to
meet new people, try new things and my experience has been so rewarding.
I'm now about to go onto University and youth work has inspired me to
study politics.
Tom:
