The Participation Team
HEAD OF PARTICIPATION
In his role as Head of Participation, Kevin is responsible for developing and promoting young people’s participation in the North East. Kevin has 20 years experience in statutory and voluntary youth and community work, which includes centre based, outreach, detached and schools work; he has extensive experience in project management for participation work and multi-agency delivery.
He is an Honours Graduate in Informal & Community Education, through the YMCA George Williams College, and is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to influence decision makers at all levels. During his previous roles Kevin has gained comprehensive knowledge and experience of working on the participation agenda; was Chair of the RAP Group and an active member of the National Steering Group for Participation Works.
Kevin joined the Unit in August 2009 and in his role manages the work of Youth Participation Team, coordinates the RAP Group and provides strategic direction for the RYWU in terms of the youth participation agenda.
When he is not at work Kevin enjoys spending time looking after his 3 granddaughters (I can give them back when they have tired me out!!) and participating in his other passion; scooters. He is the proud owner of two scooters (one Vespa and one Lambretta) which he rides to various rallies across the country and is planning a trip to Germany next year.
Contact: kevin@rywu.org.uk 0191 440 4410
REGIONAL PARTICIPATION SUPPORT WORKER
Neil first started working with children and young people as a play worker over 4 years ago and has since moved on to working in the field of youth work. He is currently in the final year of the full time course in youth and community learning.
Neil joined the RYWU team in March 2008 where he was appointed as a Youth Coordinator to establish a Youth Advisory Board for the North East 14 – 19 Regional Commission. Within this role he had certain responsibilities which were mainly centred on making sure young people’s voices and opinions are heard about their issues within education and training.
Folllowing this work, Neil has been appointed as a participation worker within the Unit and coordinates a project called the North East Youth Network which voices young people’s opinions on an even wider range of issues.
In addition to this, Neil coordinates one of the Cultural Olympiad national projects within the region called somewhereto_. somewhereto_ aims to help young people identify their particular passion and work with them to secure access to the spaces they need to do the thing that they love.
In his spare time Neil is an avid Arsenal fan and is a keen footballer and golfer and loves Nando’s!
Contact: neil@rywu.org.uk 0191 440 4410
PARTICIPATION SUPPORT WORKER
Claire is very pleased to be back working at the RYWU and said “I really enjoy working for RYWU, its a very good atmosphere and every week I feel like I’ve learned something new”.
Contact: claire@rywu.org.uk 0191 440 4410
YOUNG COORDINATOR
Laura works at the Unit as a Young Coordinator on the Truth about Youth Project. This programme has been set up to try and get positive images of young people into the media. It is led by young people for young people, which is why the Young Coordinator has been put in place.
Laura currently leads on the youth work side of the project working face to face with young
people, organising meetings and events and developing ideas.
Laura spends one day a week studying a foundation degree in working with young people through Sunderland University. She has recently completed year 1 and will be returning in September to continue her studies. She hopes to complete this course and go on to the B.A Honours to gain her full degree.
In her spare time Laura volunteers at local youth projects to gain more experience of working with young people. She also likes to socialise with friends and go to the gym but her favourite hobby is SHOPPING!!
Contact: laura@rywu.org.uk 0191 440 4410
YOUTH MEDIA COORDINATOR
Jamie recently started at the RYWU. His role involves co-ordinating and supporting the delivery of ComMediaN (Community Media Network), a group of young people from the North East trained with media skills.
ComMediaN will be working closely with the Truth About Youth project to highlight the positive things that young people do in the region and to challenge youth stereotypes and Jamie will use his experience to assist them.
He is a broadcast journalist who graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2009 with experience in audio/visual production and editing as well as creating online content and in the past has worked with Sunderland AFC and Metro Radio.
In his spare time Jamie likes reading, writing, graphic design, playing pool and snooker, documentaries, quiz shows, awfully made films with sharks in them, has been told he has the worst taste in music, and is cursed with supporting Newcastle United.
Contact: jamie@rywu.org.uk 01914404410
TRAINEE YOUTH WORKER
David recently started as a Trainee Youth Worker at Truth About Youth through his volunteering at Street League, where he contributed to organising a football tournament for Truth About Youth. At Street League David improved, gained new skills and acquired new qualifications, TAY saw his potential in this work and their Media Champions training so offered him a trainee post for 15 hours a week.
His role here at the unit is to help Laura plan and carry out new projects that will change the negative perceptions of young people in the media.
In his own words David is “a typical lad that loves football and especially Newcastle United as they’re the best thing since sliced bread to me. I adore my girlfriend and kids and I enjoy making people laugh.”
YOUNG COORDINATOR
Sophie has just started at the Unit working on the Youth Board project; a development that will bring together young people’s views on mental health services. She has experience of mental health issues in the past and is passionate about youth participation. She says;
“I believe this is the way to lift young people’s voices and increase their influence within mental health.”
After finishing her A levels she lived and worked as a volunteer teacher in South Africa for a year, then returning to continue her work with young people around mental health issues and trying to break down the stigma attached to them, alongside ‘Young Minds’. It was from this that she became involved in the initial development of this board.
Sophie will work part-time on this project, when she’s not in University, and will be working to develop this until April next year. She is currently studying Politics and Sociology in Newcastle. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends, travelling and meeting new people.
Contact: sophie@rywu.org.uk 0191 440 4410
