Youth Work

Here’s the late Barlow’s 25 Principles of Adult Behavior: Be patient. No matter what. Don’t badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn’t say to him. Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you. Expand your sense of the possible. Don’t trouble yourself with […]

Love God. Philippians 2 v “Even if I am poured out… Love the young people. Be real – be yourself. Be exactly that. Believe in the young people that you’re working with. Stand with the young people when they are in it. Have a laugh with the young people. (Create memories). Cry with the young people. […]

What a treat we had today. We visited Hustyns today and had a very lovely swim in an amazing swimming pool. We gathered in Lerryn car park and headed out across some snowy roads, thankfully now some what clearer, pass the village of Withiel (we live in Lostwithiel) and arrived at Hustyns. It is fantastic. […]

What I try to tell young people is that if you come together with a mission, and its grounded with love and a sense of community, you can make the impossible possible. John Lewis

Identify young people most at risk of disengagement Speaks for itself really. Strengthen employability This is not necessarily about equipping with skills. Young people need the discipline that comes from working. i.e. Be in work by 9, work until 5, no smoking, no swearing in work etc…. Social change We need to engage with the […]

I love living in Lostwithiel, I have a fantastic family and an amazing home. But I could pick my family up and move them anywhere. I could find a home in many different locations. What community means to me is this. This morning I woke up and took my dog for a walk. I saw […]

From “Thinking on your feet, The Prince’s Trust” Detached Youth Work is a model of youth work practice, targeted at vulnerable young people, which takes place on young people’s own territory such as streets, cafes, parks and pubs at times that are appropriate to them and on their terms. It begins from where young people […]

Don’t forget Peter Pan. Not a boy who never grew up but a boy who understood the importance of play. “A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” ― Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator Roald Dahl sums it up perfectly. To play is to just get stuck in […]

the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights. When it comes to working with young people, empowerment becomes an attitude all youth workers must adopt. The way we engage with young people should ensure that our working practice is always working towards young people taking control […]

I cannot stress the importance of detached youth work. I am sad that this important role has been lost and I feel society has become a lot shallower because of it. Issues and concerns surrounding isolation, access to good public transport, deprivation and resilience, along with caring responsibilities become evident through the “one to one” […]

Why are we so down on teenagers. A while ago, I saw a man in his 70’s drunk, being abusive and hating on people. So, do I now parade around town asking, “What am I going to do about all these 70 year old people?” You laugh and you can see the ridiculous nature of […]