Yasmin Betteridge didn’t just find her career in youth work; she helped build it from the ground up.
Her journey began not as a professional, but as a young person engaging with TRAIN Youth, a local organisation supporting young people in Oxfordshire. Yasmin first got involved through her aunt, who was volunteering at the time. A midnight ice skating trip organised by TRAIN sparked her interest, and soon she was a regular participant.
For Yasmin and her friends, TRAIN Youth wasn’t just a club. In a town where young people often felt misunderstood or judged, it offered something rare: a space where they could simply exist without scrutiny.
Choosing a different route into youth work
Yasmin Betteridge,
Youth Worker
“There weren’t many places for us to go,” Yasmin explains. “People would post about us online just for being out in public. TRAIN gave us a space where we felt safe, where we could talk openly about things like alcohol, drugs, and the challenges we were facing.”
Her connection to the organisation deepened through work experience, and it was then that Yasmin realised youth work was more than a support system – it was her professional future. But traditional routes didn’t appeal to her. “I scraped through my GCSEs,” she says. “I knew college or sixth form wasn’t going to work for me.”
Instead, Yasmin took matters into her own hands. She campaigned for TRAIN to create an apprenticeship scheme, and when they did, she became its first recruit. She completed her Level 3 qualification and is now working toward Level 6, with a clear commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
Her apprenticeship granted her qualifications while also providing confidence, skills, and a sense of purpose. “I was thrown in the deep end,” she says. “But that’s how I work best. I was volunteering weekly, running sessions, and learning from other youth workers. It reaffirmed that I was doing good youth work.”
Yasmin’s impact didn’t stop there. When TRAIN expanded into Wallingford, she was chosen to expand the new youth club. She built the timetable from scratch, recruited and managed volunteers, and shaped the space around the needs of local young people.
“I was trusted to run it how I thought would work best,” she says. “And I could adapt things quickly based on what young people were telling me.”
A youth worker who truly understands
Her approach is rooted in empathy and authenticity. As someone who grew up in the same town and faced similar challenges, Yasmin is able to connect with young people in a way that feels genuine.
“They know I get it,” she says. “I’ve been there. But I also make sure it’s not about me – it’s about them feeling heard and respected.”
One moment that stands out for Yasmin was during a detached session by the River Thames. A young person ran to her for help. Her friend was drunk and refusing to leave the water. Yasmin calmly de-escalated the situation, prioritised safety, and maintained trust. That same young person later spoke about Yasmin in a BBC interview, describing her as someone she could talk to and rely on.
Carving out a career with purpose
Now, Yasmin is preparing for her next chapter: moving into a local secondary school to bring youth work values into education. “I want young people to feel like they have a trusted adult in school,” she says. “I want to advocate for them in a different system, and keep learning how to do that better.”
Yasmin’s journey is a clear example of how youth work can lead to a purposeful and impactful career, and how alternative routes like apprenticeships can open doors for passionate, driven individuals. Yasmin didn’t follow a traditional path. She created her own. And in doing so, she’s helping others find theirs.
