During Covid I started to volunteer with North Yorkshire Youth (NYY) in Northallerton. The Youth Club was closed, so a Northallerton Youth Worker and I spent time on an evening, walking around doing welfare checks on local young people and just generally checking in on them. I did not know what to expect but enjoyed every minute of it. By the time the Youth Club re-opened, I had already met many of the young people who would be attending, and I was hooked on supporting them. I continued to volunteer and was successful in gaining paid employment as a Youth Worker at the Youth Club.
Almost five years later, I am delighted to be supporting young people across Hambleton and Selby full time. In my role as Youth and Community Development Worker, I visit many youth clubs, meet fabulous volunteers, Youth Workers, and young people. I also work together with agencies to ensure the young people have positive opportunities, which they might not be able to access in other ways.
Having been a full-time retail owner/Manager for many years and doing youth work part- time, it did seem a little strange at first making a leap to full time youth work. I am however immensely proud to belong to such a wonderful team of people. When you walk down the street and one of those young people smiles and says hello, it really makes your day, and you know you are making a difference!
Lisa Welford, Youth & Community Development Worker- Hambleton & Selby