Our Tomorrow is our Youth of Today

 Hi Swantv Viewer

Yes! tomorrow's success depends on the youth of today. We must nurture and encourage them. We all want the best for our children. Apart from what we can do and the wonderful teachers they are with daily, there is a huge network of youth support across Wales encouraging and teaching life skills through fun projects.

On Thursday I had the privilege of attending the annual Welsh Youth Work Excellence awards at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea, attended by over 200 people, many finalists in the different catagories. Different segments of the ceremony were conducted in Welsh and English and an address was given by Jeremy Miles, MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language. Apart from the awards there was live music provided before the presentations by David Ingham and Erin Rolles: whilst Laila Woodward performed two original pieces she composed at the end on stage. Talented young artists showed their work,  Makenzy Beard and others organised by MAD, the music, art and digital community company in the High Street, Swansea. 

I was suprised to find how many individuals, groups and support units are involved with the youth in Wales and how diverse these are. Many involved in working with diverse and previously marginalised groups such as those who are disabled. The shift in attitudes over recent years, especially since the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act and later the Equality Act has had an enormous impact, making disabled people welcome, showing that they are are such an important part of our communities, and often with simple adjustments they can contribute in so many ways. 

It also struck me how the word "confidence" was mentioned time and time again in passing. Being confident is probably the most important personal trait leading to a full social and working life. How many are held back because they lack confidence and are anxious. So the many groups supporting youth may not list confidence building as part of their projects but whatever they are doing in bringing young peole together and listening to them or teaching new skills all will inevitably instill increased confidence. And this in turn witl reduce anxiety and help with many mental health issues.  

The awards were  wide ranging:

Digital Innovation with two finalists  Mindscape, Tanyard Youth Project;  "Nowhere to Go", Conway Youth Service and Sarah McCradle, Cardiff Youth Service

Equality and Diversity in youth work setting with finalists ; Mixtup; STAND NW Youth Zone; Stuart Parkinson, Deaf Hub Wales

Leadership with one finalist and winner David Williams, Torfaen Youth Service.

Outstanding Youth Worker finalists Andrew Owen, Leuenctid Gwynedd Youth, Carly Powell, Caerphilly Youth Service, and Lin Brackenbury, Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Wales

Outstanding volunteer in youth work setting finalists David Stallard, Mixtup, Kieran Saunders, CCYO, Lela Patterson, Swansea MAD, and Mahieddine Dib, EYST

Welsh language youth work finalists #FelMerch, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, and GISDA,

Youth work champions finalists  Heulwen O'Callaghan, Junior Leadership Project, Hannah Lewis, The Hwb, Torfaen, Karen and Jake Henry, VibeYouth CIC, and Nick Corrigan, Media Academy Cymru.

Demonstrating excellence in partnership planning and delivery at a regional/national level finalists Inspire, Youth Work in Hospital, and Ruth Letten, CONNECT, Adoption UK

Demonstrating excellence in partnership planning and delivery at a regional level finalists Wellbeing Festival, leuenctid Gwynedd Youth, Mick Holt, Flintshire Integrated Youth Provision, and Yarn Trail, Blaenau Gwent Youth Service.

A short video was shown about each finalist and the work they did, so inspiring. The enthusiasm and commitment that was shown is reflected in the thousands of young people who have been through these projects and benefitted. 

I was a guest with Karen and Jake Henry of VibYouth, whom I nominated for an award. Not everone who attended could be the catagory winner but it was obvious that every finalist was in effect a winner to have been chosen by the judges. And as Jake told me "Looking around I realise how well we have done to be here. It is an honour to have been selected as a finalist. We just go out and do our best in schools for the young people we work with, we do it to try and enrich their lives.."

Pre-computer days when children would safely play out in the street or local parks, where youth clubs were the normal, where they can build up social skills with peers is not a bye-gone time. There are activities throughout Wales for young people of all ages and so traditions continue. Yesterday I went to watch my grandson play football against other local youth teams and saw the enjoyment he and his friends had, whether winning or losing. It was really cold with a wind blowing across the field and I stood wrapped up warm. The young players seemed oblivious to the weather and, after shaking hands with the opposing teams at the end of the matches were quickly coated and whisked away, probably for a hot chocolate drink and hot sausage roll, at least that's what we had!!

Take care and enjoy the weeks to Christmas. Your comments are appreciated. What do you think about young people today?

Mike Leahy SwanTV