Youth Work Week: A Day in the Life of a Hospital Youth Worker

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 Hospital Youth Worker Saskia tells about a day in the life.

I start my workday at 11am, because we work on teenage waking hours! I get into the office, drink my coffee and start working through the opening routines. I check the hospital systems, and screen for anyone who might benefit from a chat with us.

There’s currently no one in A&E who fits our criteria, so I spend some time writing up notes from the young person I saw yesterday evening. She was 15, and had come to A&E with self-harm, and had been struggling to attend school. I then give her a ring - I check in with her, we talk for a bit, and I ask if I can refer her to two services that I think might be able to support her.

She agrees to one, but not the other. This is completely her decision, and after the phone call, I make that referral.

It is now lunch time, so I leave the office to eat - it is important to take breaks, but I do often forget to do this when I’m at work!

After lunch, I check the hospital systems again. There is someone in the waiting room who we might be able to support - a 14-year-old with a hand injury - but they haven’t been triaged yet. I will check back in 20 minutes.

I use the time to build up our directory of local services, which is a resource that helps my team find support services for young people more easily. I check the system again, and I see more details on the young person’s case.  The allocated doctor’s notes say that the hand injury is a punch wound from a fight. I decide to go into the emergency department to get more information and find out if I can support.

The doctor says that she thinks this young person would benefit from our input, but she hadn’t mentioned our service to him yet. She goes away, and comes back quickly, saying that he is happy to see me.

I go into the side room to see him. He tells me what has happened - after sending his mum out of the room - and tells me other things, that he hadn’t told the doctor.

I’m in there for around an hour, and when I leave him, we have a plan. It involves referrals from me, goals for him, and a plan to follow up on the phone in a few days. It also involves telling his Mum some pretty big things that he has been hiding. We agree to wait a day or two for that, and that I will support him with it, over the phone. His Mum needs to know so that she can support and safeguard him, but I understand that today has already been stressful.

He seems lighter, and his Mum comments that she wasn’t expecting a youth worker to be in the hospital. She is pleased that I was able to see her son today. I am, too.

By the time I get back to the office, I just have time to write the notes, debrief with my manager, and make sure that anything else that I need to do is on a list for tomorrow. I will pick it up then, but for now, it is time to leave!

I change out of my HYW uniform, and head home. The workday is over.

Youth Work Week: Connect 1-2-1 Coaching

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. 

 

Over One Hundred People Attend Our Latest Inclusive Employer Job Fair

On the 17th of September, our latest Inclusive Employer Jobs Fair took place at the Methodist Church Dorset Gardens, organised in partnership with the Brighton Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

We were delighted to welcome over a hundred people through the doors to meet organisations, training providers and businesses from across the city.  Our TDC Employability Support Workers provided advice and support in English, Arabic and Ukrainian. 

Job seekers could attend a clinic with individual expert advice to improve CVs. Anita Pain from the DWP ran an interview workshop for attendees to practice and improve their skills. Attendees and exhibitors gave lots of positive feedback - another successful job fair.  

I find the interview session very informative and useful for job seekers.  I used the information I learned there during my actual job interviews.  At the same time, it was interesting to exchange our experiences and thoughts with other workshop participants.

Job interview workshop participant

Look out for our next job fair in partnership with Brighton Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Work and Pensions supporting Brighton and Hove residents to move into employment and further their skills to improve employability.

Thank you to our funder Brighton and Hove City Council for supporting this work. 

Getting to the Bottom of the Matter

by Jilly Stevens

There are some things you can’t wait to share with friends and family – and then there’s being told you have anal cancer.

That was where I found myself at the beginning of 2019. At the end of 2018 I had returned my bowel cancer screening test as usual. Every year, since my 60th birthday, it had arrived in the mail. I called it my Poo By Post test. This time, I received a second test asking me to do it again as they’d found traces of blood. Then a third test arrived. Then the phone call asking me to go to the hospital that week.

Now I know the test is a bit fiddly. It’s simpler now than it was, but it still involves scooping a tiny bit of your poo into a test tube. A lot of people don’t like this idea. But please, please, do it – because it’s worth it. The few minutes it took me, saved my life!

Changing attitudes

It’s not always easy to tell people you have cancer, although it’s easier than it used to be. When I was a child, it was a taboo subject. That secrecy, and the fear of finding out you had what we then called the big C, if we dared to name it at all, stopped far too many people from seeking help when they thought something was wrong.

The chances of survival were not great 60 years ago, but far too many people died simply because they didn’t go to the doctor when they knew they should. Sadly, this true in some communities, even today.

But in general, nowadays, thank goodness, most of us do talk openly about cancer. We all know people who have been cured. It is not a life sentence. But even so, I was hesitant about sharing my news. Anal cancer draws attention to that part of our body that we are most private about. I had cancer of the bottom. It was not only life threatening, it was also embarrassing.

Going public

It took me a day to decide what to do. I opened my Facebook page and came clean. I told the world that I had anal cancer, that I was going to get treatment for it and that the bowel cancer screening test I had completed had probably saved my life. I berated those friends who told me they didn’t bother to do it. And cheered those who did. Several people started doing the test after my news.

In February that year I had the tumour surgically removed. Once I’d healed, in early summer, I had a course of oral chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy. This was every weekday for five weeks.

I cannot pretend this was pleasant. I’m claustrophobic and my radiotherapy involved being in a tunnel, similar to having an MRI. Those radiographers were absolute stars. No matter who was on duty, every one of them was kind, sympathetic and talked to me as I had the treatment. The receptionists and all staff at the Park Centre where I went every day were also wonderful.

The chemotherapy – which I took in tablet form – made me feel rotten, too. But by the end of the year, scans and blood tests showed that I was probably cancer free.

And that’s still true today.

A great service

We have a great NHS. For cancer patients in our city being referred on the urgent cancer pathway means nobody has to hang around waiting to know. You are seen within two weeks, usually quicker, and your treatment is started as soon as possible.

You’ll be cared for by experts and if my experience is anything to go by you will be told exactly what is happening and why. I was also supported from diagnosis to cure and longer by my own Macmillan nurse. What a wonderful service they provide.

I can now write about my brush with cancer because I took that test. Don’t risk it. Do it too. The earlier you catch cancer, the better your chance of survival.

If you are aged 54 to 74 and registered with a GP you should receive a test through the post every two years. By 2025 your test should arrive every two years if you are 50 or over.

If you are over 75 you can ask for a kit every two years by phoning 0800 707 6060.

And if you’re worried at any time that something is not right – see your doctor, whether or not you’ve had a test.

If you have any concerns about cancer or cancer screening get in touch with our Act on Cancer Together team. Email [email protected] or call 01273234769

Screening is normally normal so don’t put it off

Image of two women with words saying: detecting cervical cancer early can make all the difference.
Image of two women with words saying: detecting cervical cancer early can make all the difference.

Screening is normally normal so don’t put it off

Cervical screening awareness week

This week is cervical screening awareness week, running from 17 – 23 June. It’s an annual reminder of how important – in fact, lifesaving - screening can be.
According to Macmillan, nearly one in four people don’t attend their cervical screening (also known as smear tests), often because they are worried, even though we know that most screening tests are normal

Katy’s story

I know from personal experience how important it is to go for your test; it probably saved my life!

I had an abnormal test result, so I had to go for a follow up test called a colposcopy – this is a test which gets a better look at the cells in the cervix

Even though I felt nervous about going for this test, I still went. When I got there, the specialist chatted with me beforehand and explained what would happen. This was very reassuring. While it was a bit uncomfortable and awkward, it was quick and painless, and the staff were there to hold my hand and chat to me throughout

In my case, I did need treatment. The team I met at my colposcopy carried it out, and it didn’t take very long. I had a local anaesthetic and chatted with the nurse who stood by me the whole time. We talked about dog agility classes, even though I don’t have a dog. I remember that more than the treatment!

I was in and out of the hospital outpatient department in about an hour and got the bus back home! I remember having a sandwich and then falling asleep on the sofa for the afternoon.
I had regular follow up checks and then annual screening for the next three years

It’s important to remember that most cervical screening results are normal. Don’t put them off because they can prevent cancer, and they might save your life

If you want more support

We know it can be scary trying to find out more about cancer, but the friendly Act on Cancer Together team are available to talk to you about going for a cervical screening test or answer any questions you might have. If they don’t know the answer, they will know someone who does.

If you would like to talk to someone, please phone the Act on Cancer Together (ACT) team on 01273 234769 or email us on [email protected]

Act on Cancer Together (ACT) is a partnership between The Trust for Developing Communities, The Hangleton and Knoll Project, Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Sussex and Brighton and Hove City Council.

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month starts next week

Almost 43,000 new cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year. That’s nearly 120 every single day. But if caught early, more than 90% of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully.   

That’s why raising awareness about screening is so important and why The Hangleton and Knoll Project, Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Sussex and Brighton and Hove City Council – our Act on Cancer Together (ACT) project – are taking part in Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April.  

We are asking anyone who is aged between 54 and 74 to take up the offer of a bowel cancer screening kit. It’s a DIY kit and is very easy to use. It will be sent to you through the post and comes with easy to follow instructions. The test is hygienic and can be done in the privacy of your own home before being posted back to the NHS.  

The test detects tiny traces of blood in your poo. Even if the test is positive, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. But it does mean you will be seen by a specialist for further checks.  

Jilly knows what it feels like to have a positive test. She believes it saved her life.  

I did my tests religiously. I had no symptoms and no idea that I had anything wrong with me. When one test wasn’t normal, I had a colonoscopy and I was told I had cancer. That test saved my life. From the moment I was diagnosed, I had the most wonderful support from everyone in the NHS and my Macmillan nurse and her colleagues were absolutely wonderful. I was supported as a person rather than just a patient.

If you aren’t in the age group to be invited to take the test, it’s still important that you know what the symptoms of bowel cancer are. If you think you have any of these symptoms, please speak to a health care professional so you can be checked: 

  • Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo. 
  • A persistent and unexplained change in your bowel habit. 
  • Unexplained weight loss. 
  • Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason. 
  • A pain or lump in your tummy. 

 

One in 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer at some time during their lives. 

Currently, only 69.6% of people eligible for it do the test. If more people did the test, more lives could be saved. 

As Jilly says:

It’s very scary, having cancer. But my goodness, there is a lot of support there.

Youth Voices: Improving Access to Support Services

The Trust for Developing Communities (TDC) is facilitating a youth peer-research study into improving ethnically diverse young people’s access to support services in Brighton & Hove. 

TDC have recruited and trained a diverse group of young people to design and deliver this research study as peer researchers, working alongside TDC staff. 

The focus of this study is to gather valuable insights into barriers to access and engagement that ethnically diverse young people aged 13 to 19 might face when seeking help from youth support services in Brighton & Hove. There will also be an emphasis on identifying solutions that can increase awareness, reduce barriers, and increase accessibility by shaping youth support services so they always feel inclusive, and a place ethnically diverse young people would want to go, should they ever need to.

This study is being delivered through two research methods: an anonymous online survey, and a small number of focus groups each with around 2-4 young people.

The anonymous online questionnaire is for ethnically diverse young people aged 13-19 living, studying, or working in Brighton and Hove. This short survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete; and asks questions around awareness of youth support services, what might stop or get in the way of ethnically diverse young people using youth support services and gathers their suggestions for making these services more welcoming and inclusive.

As an expression of our gratitude for their valuable insights, participants have the option to enter a prize draw with a chance to win one of four £25 vouchers. The survey is due to close at 9am on Monday 15th of April.

We are asking parents and caregivers of children aged 13-19 years from ethnically diverse communities to share this online survey with their children. You can read more about the research study in this Information Sheet for Parents & Caregivers. If you are happy to share this survey with your child or children, they can click here to access the survey

Looking back at our AGM

Last October we held our AGM at The Brighthelm Centre, celebrating work throughout 2022-23 and our Community Champions. 

We've been posting the fantastic films that were made to showcase each of our Community Champions. You can watch them all in this playlist, here. Or by clicking on the individual thumbnails below.

TDC Office Coordinator Cerys Evans who managed the event and the creation of the videos, looks back on an amazing evening and especially the awards.

This year, we nominated ten Community Champions for their incredible work. We showcased each champion with a video, showing them at their best. Amber Rose Morgan, our talented filmmaker, helped us film and edit all the videos within just a few weeks.

It was a pleasure to meet of the champions on site while I interviewed them. Each of them greeted us with warmth and kindness. As we went through each of their questions, we heard stories of finding people employment, creating a beautiful garden space, sharing a community arts project, supporting people whose English was a second language, and welcoming refugees into the city.

In my role co-ordinating the office, it’s rare to see first hand how they benefit the community. But it’s undeniable to see the warmth and generosity that each of the champions gave in their interviews, as well as seeing them at working and seeing the photos they shared. Each of them is a credit to TDC and to the city of Brighton and Hove.

Congratulations to each of the champions. You’ve all earned your nomination and award!

New Classes from Friends at BMECP

Friends at BMECP began to emerge in 2023 with the purpose of bringing community activities for BME people back into the BMECP Centre. They had their AGM in October during a combined MOSAIC and Ageing Well Event. Their aim was to increase wellbeing and a sense of belonging for BME people and to be run by BME people. Meetings were held every Friday to get activities off the ground. There had already been a sewing group and it had fallen away so this was one of the key things they wanted. There had also been a yoga class, so this was also a focus.

Members worked really hard to find out who could teach from their communities and where we could get supplies from. TDC supported them in getting the governance off the ground and in getting bids out. By January, sewing classes began every Monday and yoga every Wednesday (both term time only). And very well attended they are too!

Representation was key as one member highlighted:

Doing work in groups: sitting, chatting and sharing, bonding and creating something, helping each other out and showing new ways to do things all creates community. Also, representation is important as this has been missing in other groups.

Welcome to Lunch and Learn

From Maryna Kirpikova

Lunch and Learn was created because many senior members of the Ukrainian community were saying that there was a need of a class for absolute beginners in English and there was another request for such ESOL group from East Brighton community. 

So the first Lunch and Learn 8-week  course ran from the end of May to the middle of July last year at the Whitehawk Community Hub every Monday morning.

This group became quite popular and every time from 10 to 15 people came to the session. After every session participants had lunch together and enjoyed time communicating with each other. For the last session of the course they went on a picnic to the Stanmer Park and had a great time there! New 8-week course started on the 4th September and is  well-liked too!

 

 

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