In March 2015 I bid farewell to Young Gloucestershire after four years of working for the Charity. I set off on an eight-month trip, travelling in Australia and South East Asia where I volunteered for a couple of NGO’s and visited some really interesting youth work charities and social enterprises. On my return I was offered the opportunity to come and cover a maternity post here at The Link.

 

Prior to my trip I had worked with the Development Team and the Youth Work Team on a number of different projects, but I had not yet worked at The Link, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to experience all aspects of the work at Young Gloucestershire and join the team at The Link over the coming months.

I have settled in well and the team here have made me very welcome. It’s definitely much easier to start a new job when you already know everyone!

 

I am learning all the time, which keeps the work fresh, from the monitoring procedures in place when working for a Lottery funded project to building up my knowledge base of local services that are available to young people, as well as familiarising myself with the services and support available to young people aged 16-25. From online training qualifications to CV writing and a counselling service in partnership with TIC+ and NHS Gloucestershire, the Link aims to provide information, advice and guidance all under one roof. I am really looking forward to the next few months, supporting young people to take the next steps in their lives.