Supporting young people has always been what motivates me. I spent ten years working in education, including supporting young people with additional needs, but I wanted more time to build relationships with young people to understand what they are experiencing, and support them as individuals. That’s what drew me to youth work.
I’m now Youth Work Leader at Hale Community and Youth Centre in Farnham, Surrey, and continuing to learn and develop is a big part of how I approach my role. The NYA Academy has become my first stop whenever I’m looking for training or ways to develop my practice. I trust the quality of the learning and the advice it provides, and I know I can turn to the Academy to help me keep building my skills to benefit the young people I work with.
Finding my place in youth work
Jo Goodhew,
NYA Academy Learner
I found education difficult because, ultimately, it came back to marks, books and grades. My passion was supporting young people, and I wanted the opportunity to understand their barriers and needs and support them as individuals. There just wasn’t always the time, flexibility or resources within a school to do that in the way I wanted.
When a role came up at Hale Community and Youth Centre, initially for just eight hours a week, I decided to go for it. I quickly realised that youth work was where I wanted to be – I had found my passion.
My employer encouraged me to take formal youth work training and pointed me towards the NYA. I started with free CPD courses while waiting for my Level 3 to begin and the NYA Academy quickly became my go-to for developing my knowledge and competencies.
“I loved the Level 3 course. When I came to look for a Level 4 training provider, I didn’t need to compare other organisations.”
I now run the youth centre, with sessions throughout the week, a young carers group, school outreach and detached work on a local estate. My training has helped me grow in my role, allowing me to put what I was learning straight into real life scenarios.
Learning that changed my practice
One of the biggest benefits of studying with the NYA Academy has been the way the learning has directly influenced my practice.
“It wasn’t just the course I was learning about, it was actually how to make my practice better as well.”
My Level 4 course was a real turning point in building my confidence. I was stepping into a more senior role at work and learning how to lead and manage effectively on the course, while doing the job itself. I could immediately apply what I was learning to my role.
There was one point, however, when I nearly gave up. I was struggling to understand what some of the assignment questions were asking and felt like I was failing. Thankfully my NYA Academy Tutor took the time to break the questions down into clear, manageable steps.
That completely changed my learning style. Instead of spending hours becoming stressed and overwhelmed, I could understand what was being asked, enjoy the research and approach my assignments with more confidence.
That one-to-one support made such a difference because, without it, I’m not sure I would have carried on and got to the end of the course.
The bursary scheme
When I started my Level 3, I was working limited hours and simply couldn’t pay for the course myself. My Level 3 and Level 4 were both funded through the bursary scheme.
The support meant I could continue developing my skills without having to choose between progressing my youth work practice and what I could afford.
The bursaries have been life-changing for me. They’ve enabled me to keep studying, keep learning and continue developing.
The bursary also connected me with the NYA as a wider source of support and guidance. It has helped me keep my skills and knowledge up to date in areas such as detached youth work and digital support, ensuring I can continue to respond to the changing needs and experiences of young people.
Looking ahead
I’m now preparing to start my Level 6 youth work degree apprenticeship with Captiva Learning. I’ll be studying online, alongside my job, with dedicated study time built into my role, and the course is fully funded through the NatWest Levy scheme.
For me, continuing professional development isn’t about working towards a particular job title. It’s about continuing to learn so I can give young people the best support I can.
I just want to keep empowering young people, advocating for them and supporting them to use their voices more, to be heard and seen.
If you’re considering starting a qualification with the NYA Academy, my advice is simple: go for it. Don’t let nerves or self-doubt stop you. You’ll learn so much, apply that learning directly to your work, share techniques and approaches with your colleagues, and become a more confident youth worker.
It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career.
