Steph Kibirige, age 34, is a youth support worker at The Boathouse Youth organisation in Blackpool. Steph is one of 40 students who started in September 2023 on the new Level 6 youth work degree-apprenticeship course at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Inspired by volunteering
After school Steph attended college and found this wasn’t for her, so went on to get a job in the corporate sector. She began volunteering at a youth club in the evenings and spent the last four years working with organisations called MAHDLO Youth Zone in Oldham, then HideOut Youth Zone in Manchester, and finally Lancashire County Council in Fylde and Wyre, who meet targeted youth needs in the area.
Last year Steph was made redundant from her role as Finance Administrator at Well Pharmacy and considered enrolling on a full-time BA Hons youth work degree, to help her move into a youth work role. She initially approached Jenny Foster, Youth Work Course Leader at UCLan, to find out more about the course.
Steph Kibirige, Youth Support Worker, The Boathouse Blackpool
Steph said, “I’d looked at the full time BA Hons degree in youth work and running it alongside my full-time job was impossible as well as two evenings a week at the youth club. There just wasn’t the time and I wouldn’t have been able to manage financially.”
Accessing youth work qualifications using NatWest Levy Funding
Upon redundancy, Jenny advised Steph to approach The Boathouse Youth in Blackpool as they had job vacancies and were supporting employees to access a youth work qualification through the NatWest Levy funding.
Steph explained, “It just seemed like the perfect storm. My job ended the week the apprenticeship started in September, and I was able to begin at The Boathouse on a part time basis whilst running down my corporate job. It was incredible really because I’d looked at doing this degree for such a long time.”
Steph feels there’s a wealth of benefits to learning on-the-job alongside other youth support workers who are employed across the sector: “Some students on the course have been doing youth work for close to 20 years. Drawing on their knowledge and skills, essentially their toolbox, as a learner is so helpful. I’m still perfecting my craft, and I enjoy the discussions we have because it is an ever-changing world and it’s invaluable learning from their experiences.”
The Boathouse Youth operate a number of youth centres including one in Blackpool South and a second on the Grange Park estate, helping young people living in locally deprived areas to access opportunities as well as supporting those who are in the care system.
She said, “Most of the young people have a story. And knowing that you’re playing a role in their life to help make it just that little bit lighter and brighter – well, it’s why I joined youth work to be honest.”
Helping diversify the next generation of youth workers
The first-year degree-apprentices at UCLan took part in a residential last year and Steph feels it was invaluable to create trusted connections amongst her peers.
“Conversations that took place on the residential were nothing short of incredible because so many different people from different walks of life sparked debates and broadened others’ understanding of things, such as learning about how to open up the topic of acceptance. The safe space it provided really allowed us to dive into things.”
NatWest’s Levy funding has provided Steph with a fully funded place on the course. She said, “It’s been a huge benefit as I didn’t qualify for any of the additional funding support. It means I don’t have a student loan after I’ve finished University. To have a job and get the day release to study has enabled me not only to maintain my life, but progress in so many other ways.
“I don’t think many students would have been able to take up the youth work degree apprenticeship without the NatWest funding, so the classroom I’m in wouldn’t be as diverse. I genuinely think it has changed everyone’s lives in that room.”
Steph has financial commitments such as a mortgage, a car and pets, which means not having a job was never an option. But the youth work degree qualification was her dream goal.
She said, “Personally, I don’t think it would have been such a smooth experience as it has been without NatWest, because it’s quite a financial commitment without the Levy funding.”
