This week we're marking Youth Work Week with some stories from our amazing your workers, making a difference in the live of young people across Brighton and Hove. Today Youth Coach Evie Beardmore tells the story of her work with a young person as part of the Connect Project.
Georgia* was referred into Connect, TDC’s 1-1 Youth Work project, due to the social isolation and social anxiety she was experiencing. Georgia had changed schools several times due to bullying and struggled to access the additional support they needed.
When we met, they were on a reduced timetable in their last year of school, attending the alternative provision hut within the school grounds for an hour or so, a couple times a week. Georgia was anxious and unsure of what the next step was for them. Our early sessions explored Georgia’s social anxiety and low mood. We discussed ways forward and coping strategies for these by creating a social network and looking at ways to connect them into their community.
Since meeting Georgia, she has been on a journey with finding her voice, building her self-esteem and pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Georgia has attend a youth group for socially anxious young people, which provides a space to connect and make friends. Georgia built up the confidence to attend a ‘new friend meet-up’ with another young person and myself. This has now developed into a friendship where the young people message daily and chat.
They recently went to the cinema together without any adult support.
After visiting a local college together, Georgia successfully got accepted onto a course and is now a student at the college. The college specialises in supporting young people with additional needs who have an interest in music and creative arts. Georgia is flourishing in a new environment and enjoying her new music course, Georgia has sung in front of her class on multiple occasions and has nominated herself to become a class rep.
As of more recently, Georgia has attended a Youth Wise event in the city with myself. Georgia shared their story around her educational experience. Georgia discussed accessibility, inclusivity and the support she feels is needed for young people awaiting EHCP and diagnosis.
Since attending this event, Georgia has made the decision that she would like to join the Youth Council and be a voice for other young people who are going through similar experiences to her.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Georgia and I am incredibly proud of her resilience and growth. The world is her oyster!
It’s been perfect having Evie who I’m able to talk to or message whenever I have something that’s stressing me out or just for a catch up. It’s good that I’m able to find what I’m struggling with and talk about it rather than bottling it up.
I enjoyed talking about both the good and bad things, mainly things that I enjoy or what’s going on day to day, but also the things I’m either stressing about or overthinking as it’s nice to have someone else’s opinion that isn’t judgemental
*Names have been changed. Photograph posed by model.