Youth work is just the job for teen apprentices
A NORTH East teenager is proving to be well placed when it comes to helping other local youngsters.
At just turned 18, Donna Sykes from Normanby in the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland is playing a significant part in the overhaul of a local youth and community centre.
Donna’s desire to support youngsters from her local area saw her secure a job as an apprentice youth worker with Redcar and ClevelandCouncil in September 2009.
As a result she has joined a team of youth workers at the Grangetown Youth and Community Centre, which supports around 400 young people, aged 12 to 19, from the Grangetown, Eston and South Bank areas.
Open during evenings, school holidays and weekends, the centre provides drop-in youth club sessions, as well as the opportunity for youngsters to play football, netball and basketball.
Since starting her apprenticeship in youth work, Donna has been busy consulting with young people, key partners and architects about how best to spend a £226,000 grant from the Youth Capital Fund which is helping to transform the interior of the centre.
Richard Gerrard, area youth worker and Donna’s mentor, explains: “Although Donna is mature for her age, when she started her apprenticeship with us she had no previous experience in youth work.
“But she has bucket loads of enthusiasm, a desire to learn and an ability to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds. The apprenticeship is certainly helping Donna to fulfil her potential whilst she is helping other young people to fulfil theirs too.
“Youth workers can get involved with everything from organising activities such as dance and drama workshops, through to providing one-to-one counselling sessions and encouraging young people to discuss important issues such as bullying and sexual health.”
Despite such challenges, Donna relishes being able to help address issues which affect young people. She has also made sure that their views are represented when it comes to the ‘new look’ centre.
“As well as finding out what activities are important to young people, I have made sure they are involved in everything from choosing the centre’s new colour schemes through to the type of carpet to be laid. I have even kept a photo diary for them so that we can monitor progress,” said Donna.
On top of this Donna has introduced a young person’s salon, where a local beautician visits once a week to provide beauty treatments.
“I’ve got the apprenticeship to thank for giving me such a great opportunity, whilst knowing that I’m doing something positive for the people of the local community,” she continued.
Donna is one of 20 apprentices recently recruited by Redcar and Cleveland Council. Two other members of the group are also training to be youth workers. They are Sam Tudor, 18 from Redcar, based at East Cleveland Youth and Community Centre and Philippa Taylor, 19 from Brotton who has taken up an apprenticeship position at Redcar Youth and Community Centre.
:: To find out more about employing apprentices within your organisation, please contact the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600 or visit the website www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Share
