Life as a Young Consultant

Tags: ymca | young consultants

What a privilege to be given the opportunity to work on a team so heavily involved in changing the futures of young people.

It all started at the YMCA annual conference near the start of 2009 where I was approached on a disco dance floor by a lady named Zoe. I was not dancing and she was attempting to persuade me to do it but I refused due to my lack of dance moves.

We then had a discussion about my life and I asked her what she did, and eventually she came out with a statement I will never forget: that I was just the sort of person that she had been looking for.

This was a very strong confidence builder for me even though at the time I was oblivious to what she had seen in me. I believe Zoe spotted a potential in me that I was later to learn about and recognise for myself.

When I started my role as a Young Consultant I was very shy of social situations, but I found myself suddenly going to meetings and being surrounded by a world of compassion for young people which was unusual for me.

I soon realised that the team of Young Consultants included members that were passionate about changing the lives of young people.

As I progressed with the team I found that, as I was completing tasks successfully and was getting to know more about the myplace project, my confidence grew.

I was realising that this was no small project; this was larger than anything that I had seen: 63 world class youth centres built in deprived areas of the country is an extraordinary idea and the best thing about it the intention for it all to be entirely in the hands of young people.

So I was inspired by my position, especially as I had lived on the streets for six years before being helped with accommodation by the YMCA, and now I was working for them in one of the largest projects to help young people that I believe exists.

I don't want to sound like I'm being biased towards the myplace project when I say amazing things about it but I truly believe it to be a very good idea and every project that exists for young people helps them in their own way.

Further into my role I visited a project on my own where I was able to talk confidently with the project leader and we were able to discuss concerns.

I could see other members of the Young Consultant team developing as well, as they were also being inspired by the concept of the myplace project.

From when they started to the present day they have become more confident, more inspired and I feel that they have a lot of still unfulfilled potential that I know they are motivated and enthusiastic enough to fulfil.

There are also new members of the team who I know are completely unaware of just how life changing this role can be.

I don't think it will be the same without our leader Zoe who encourages us and guides us and most importantly understands us. However, I'm sure the team will be able to guide and encourage each other and that their new leader will be chosen carefully.

Recently, projects have either been completed or are near completion and soon young people all over the country are going to have places where they can enjoy activities which are usually unreachable to them and they are sure to benefit from that.

It is my hope that the organisations involved with myplace will work alongside the passion-filled Young Consultants to inspire young people.

I am leaving this role now because I am hopefully moving on to another project but I would first like to thank everyone on the team who did not lose faith in me even when I wasn't at my best.  

I know I am yet to achieve my full potential and I have received so much encouragement from the other Young Consultants and also other people involved and I believe that I will go very far because of this.

I am most happy with the fact that this project is in safe hands and that there is a team that will ensure that it will have the maximum impact of benefiting our young people.