Good youth work feels good
07 November 2018
I’ve had a varied career. From working as an after school club coordinator, senior residential social worker at a therapeutic children’s home to the resettlement of young offenders from prisons and delivering behaviour change and well-being programmes in psychiatric hospitals.
There’s always been one common theme: youth work. It comes many guises but when you strip everything away, you’re left with pure youth work at its core. It’s people that change people; delivery methods and interventions are varied, but it’s really about putting people at the heart of everything.
So, I was humbled, honoured and very nervous to speak in front my peers at City Hall last week, because I hold you all in the highest esteem.
Good youth work feels good. You know when you’re doing a good job because you feel good inside. However, I also know that to do this work is not without its difficulties and fair share of pain and often self-sacrifice. I should know, I’m a foster carer.
I’m currently the co-founder and CEO of Boxing Futures, a charity that delivers non-contact boxing programmes to improve the overall health & well-being of young people. That title doesn’t sit well with me, because like you, I do this work because I care, and want to make difference to young lives. That’s it, nothing more nothing less.
I strive to put youth work at the core of everything we do for young people, in whatever the sector or industry!
Keep doing what you’re doing; it’s working and you’re changing lives!
Anthony York – CEO, Boxing Futures
This blog was written as part of Youth Work Week 2018 #YWW18.
Find out more about Boxing Futures here.
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