What Youth Work means to Me : Alesha Patel

We asked our wonderful Youth Engagement and Ambassador Coordinator Alesha what she loves about youth work and what youth work means to her.

“Youth work is one of the best services in the world – and I’m not biased because I’m a youth worker. Ask any young person who has had one, they’ll tell you. The relationship between a young person and a youth worker is so important because it is different to that of a teacher, or a parent and that’s because the young person is making a conscious choice to engage because they actually want to. The reason this is significant is because young people are often don’t get a choice. They are told what to do and how to do it. Often their opinions, choices and thoughts are dismissed”.

What does being a Youth Worker mean to me?

“As a youth worker, I like to create a space for young people to feel safe and heard, and to feel important and stand out. This is becoming more and more important in world where technology is advancing every day and the pace of life picks up. Young people need something constant, that they have control of. I try to be that constant by wearing many hats and this changes with each individual young person I work with. My job requires me to get to know who they are and what their needs are. I try to empower, guide and listen to young people because they have so much potential and they just need someone to see that in them”

How can you get involved in Youth Employment UK’s Youth Ambassador Programme?