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“Youth work is the best job in the world,” Kate Sidwell says during Youth Work Week, urging people of all ages to get involved, writes Alex Duff.
Kate, celebrating over 25 years with Young People Cornwall during its 50th anniversary year, joined Cheryl Gordon and Tom Howe on CHAOS Radio’s Breakfast Show to discuss the nationwide celebration of youth work.
As a veteran in the field, Kate discussed the shifts she’s seen in the needs of young people over the years, sharing that while social media and online issues have surged, many of the same challenges persist, like drugs and alcohol, as young people grow up and transition into adulthood.
There’s another constant too: the critical need for youth work; to listen to and amplify young voices, enabling them to shape the support and services necessary to achieve their fullest potential.
Kate says that it’s listening to what young people want that has made so many of the projects Young People Cornwall deliver such a success. Like ZEBs, for example, a youth centre and café in the heart of Truro.
Originally housed in a small two-story building, ZEBs expanded thanks to the initiative of a group of young friends, eager to practice their drumming without upsetting their neighbours. In came their drum kit, unleashing all the expected chaos! But what happened next is a great example of what’s possible when young people are passionate, committed, and empowered.
“Working together with the young people we secured funding not only for a music practice area but a recording studio,” explains Kate.
The Zebs building in central Truro expanded into a three-story hub to accommodate the music studio and in opening its doors, opened with it – dreams and opportunities.
“We need to think about young peoples’ aspirations,” says Kate. Given the high levels of poverty and deprivation within Cornwall, we need to give young people opportunities to try new things, to explore careers they might not even know exist.”
It’s why Young People Cornwall look at the skills and strengths a young person has and works with them to expand those skills. Yet securing funding to continue this work is increasingly challenging.
“There are a lot of areas in Cornwall that don’t have youth work that would really benefit from it,” adds Kate. Yet despite these challenges, Young People Cornwall continues to advocate for sustained investment in youth work citing the incredible difference it makes.
This Youth Work Week Kate wants people to know that youth work is the best job in the world; transforming communities as well as individual lives. She encourages anyone noticing a lack of activities within their community to consider the power of youth work. “If you’re keen to provide some youth work, we’d love to hear from you,” she concludes.
Young People Cornwall leads the national Youth Work Week celebrations across our county, highlighting the vast amount of youth work they’re delivering here, and reaffirming that youth work is indeed the best job in the world.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.youngpeoplecornwall.org.
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