Nik Harwood Chief Executive Expand Chief Executive What’s the best thing about your job at Young Somerset? “It’s not a job.” Do you have a hidden talent or any hobbies? “Painting miniature figures to ‘pro’ standard and the ability to talk about pretty much anything and sound convincing at ridiculously short notice.” Contact: 07974 087586
Stuart Rance Chair Expand Chair "I am a self employed Project Manager, covering all aspects, ranging from food industry installations and engineering, through to feasibility studies, relocations and interim management. In the course of this, I have travelled all over the country, which I believe has given me a wide and varied insight into most matters. My involvement with formal youth groups began in 1991, when I joined a board until 2008! In June 2011, I was asked to join the board for the Somerset Rural Youth Project (now Young Somerset), which I gladly did and I have remained ever since, culminating in my current role as Chair. I am now looking forward greatly to the challenges that Young Somerset will bring." Where's your favourite place in Somerset? "Probably Exmoor as this was my first introduction to the countryside and have enjoyed it ever since." Do you have a hidden talent or any hobbies? "I have enjoyed walking over the last 35 years, having trekked around/to Annapurna, Everest Base Camp, Mount Kenya and the Indian Himalayas as well as numerous places in the UK. I have successfully organised a 3 peaks challenge and have been involved with Ten Tors for the past 34 years, mostly as Team Manager." What's the best thing about your job at Young Somerset? "My favourite thing about being involved with Young Somerset, is to see the enjoyment gained by young people, when challenges are overcome. It is great leveller to see what those young people can achieve given the correct encouragement and environment." And finally, Ninjas or Pirates? "Definitely a Pirate, I'm not always one for complying as I should!"
Julie Biggs Trustee Expand Trustee As a highly experienced senior HR business leader, I have led the full range of HR services delivering to a variety of large, medium and small public sector organisations (including schools and academies) as well as working with IBM. I am currently a Leadership and Transformation Coach & Consultant working with individuals and teams. Having started off my HR life working in YTS, I have always had a keen interest in supporting young people to develop their potential and skills. The breadth of opportunities offered by Young Somerset along with the dedication and commitment of the team in making a difference to the lives of young people in our county were what inspired me to become a member of the Board.
Woolavington Youth Club Expand Are you aged between 10 and 16? Come along to our youth club to enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor activities for free! Where? Sports Pavilion, Darkfield Way, Woolavington When? Every Thursday 4-6pm Contact: Helen Baker [email protected] Please note this youth club is supported and guided by our experienced youth work team, for a limited period of time, to help establish the running of its own youth club.
Welcome Expand Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at Young Somerset. If you are successful with your application, you will be making a real difference to our work supporting young people across Somerset. Young Somerset provides a wide range of services for young people, supporting their personal, social, educational, and economic development. We are a youth work organisation – this means that we take the time to build relationships with young people that are open, honest, trusting, respectful and led by them. You will find more information on this website – feel free to explore! Volunteers enable us to further enrich the work we do with young people, for which we are extremely grateful.
David Elstone Trustee Expand Trustee Where's your favourite place in Somerset? "THE COUNTY GROUND – cricket has been an important part of my life, both playing and supporting. I have many happy memories of the County Ground. One of the first things I did after retiring back to Somerset was to take up a membership at Somerset CCC once again." Do you have a hidden talent or any hobbies? "I am afraid I have no hidden talents. I have never been especially creative. My hobbies pretty much all revolve around sport and my family. Both boys play cricket and hockey and so many weekends are spent watching them play. I am also a lifelong Bristol City supporter and have the grey hairs to show for it!" What's the best thing about your job at Young Somerset? "Having had a career in education I have always been passionate in providing opportunities for young people. It is clear to me that Young Somerset shares that passion and I am looking forward to seeing the organisation grow and affect even more young lives." And finally, Ninjas or Pirates? "As Bristol Rovers are known as the Pirates, I would have to say Ninja!"
Holly Churchill Youth Board Member Expand Youth Board Member Where's your favourite place in Somerset? "Churchill - because it's my last name and i do horse riding there!" Do you have a hidden talent or any hobbies? "Horse riding, fishing and sleeping. I also like going to the beach on Christmas day!" What's the best thing about your job at Young Somerset? "Being part of a great bunch of people in youth board and Young Somerset." And finally, Ninjas or Pirates? "Pirates"
Billy Marshall Youth Board Member Expand Youth Board Member Where's your favourite place in Somerset? "Cheddar Gorge" Do you have a hidden talent or any hobbies? "Football and gymnastics" What's the best thing about your job at Young Somerset? "Working with a great bunch of members in the youth board." And finally, Ninjas or Pirates? "Ninjas"
Claire Tough Trustee Expand Trustee Where is your favourite place in Somerset, and why? "One of my favourite places to visit is Dunster located on the edge of Exmoor National Park. It is an area steeped in history, has a wonderful castle, easy access to the beaches and the neighbouring moorland. Depending on my mood I can explore the area and get lost in my own thoughts." Do you have a hidden talent or any hobbies? "I don't feel that I have any hidden talents but I do love to create things and play sports like golf. I have a real love of portrait photography and am regularly seen snapping at a variety of subjects!" What's the best thing about your role at Young Somerset? "As a Trustee I believe I can contribute to how the organisation supports young people living in Somerset from a leadership and management perspective. Empowering young people through support and mentoring to be the best they can be is really rewarding; creating opportunities to develop and grow. Somerset needs its young people to be the movers and shakers of the future - and there's lots of talent here to do just that." And finally, Ninjas or Pirates? "Ninjas!"
Our Commitment to Volunteers Expand Young Somerset values its volunteers and we recognise their huge contribution to our work. We recognise that volunteers are not paid staff, but are people making a valuable contribution to our work with young people. We hope that our volunteers have a rewarding experience with us, that meets their needs as well as ours. We are committed to: Treating all volunteers with respect and valuing them as individuals Providing a safe working environment Providing clarity about volunteer’s roles, and appropriate induction and training
What Our Volunteers Do Expand As a Young Somerset (YS) Volunteer you will work with and support young people across a range of our youth services. You will be supporting YS Youth Workers, Wellbeing Practitioners, and/or the Skills Development team. We also occasionally offer volunteer opportunities in our central business team, ensuring our delivery staff are supported through efficient administration, finance, marketing and communications. As a YS Volunteer you will be working with other volunteers and staff to support young people in learning new skills, develop important interpersonal skills, gain confidence and self-esteem, seek advice and reduce the risk of becoming involved in unsafe activity, such as drugs and alcohol misuse
Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities Expand Your role and responsibilities as a Young Somerset Volunteer will vary and be dependent on which YS team you are supporting. Some of the tasks you may be involved with are: Supporting staff to deliver our services in line with YS policies, procedures, and guidelines. Supporting staff in delivering activities which promote young people’s personal, social, educational, and economic development. Assisting with signposting and giving advice to young people. Providing young people with a suitable role model. Supporting staff in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. Taking an active part in organised group work within youth club. Supporting staff in ensuring that our work operates within a safe environment for young people, staff, fellow volunteers, and all visitors. Providing support to staff at events we host.
What Are We Looking For? Expand Passion and commitment for supporting young people & helping them to accomplish their goals. A genuine interest in youth work/services and working with young people. Ability to communicate effectively with young people, demonstrating awareness and understanding of the diverse range of issues affecting young people. Ability to communicate in a clear, constructive, and positive manner. Effective interpersonal skills, adaptable with a flexible approach in dealing with challenges. Able to understand boundaries and work in a sensitive, confidential, and non-judgmental way. Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality. Willingness and ability to commit the time and effort required. Able to demonstrate patience and integrity even in challenging situations. An understanding of Young Somerset’s values and ability to reflect these. We are looking for people who share our ethos and values and who seek to support young people in developing important life and learning skills in all areas of their lives. It would be nice but not essential if you had experience working with children and young people. You really need the ability to engage and inspire, bringing out the best in young people and encourage them. You will be interacting with lots of different people, so an understanding of group dynamics and ability to deal positively with different personality types (both young people and adults) is a requirement. It is important that you can work as part of a team. It is imperative that you are reliable and able to commit to the days you sign up for. There is no minimum number of days required but the more you can do the better. You will receive safeguarding training, but if you have already got a good understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures that will help. All adults working with children and young people will require a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) enhanced criminal record check. If you have a DBS already, let us know as we may be able to accept it. If you have not, you will need to apply for one with Young Somerset which we will pay for.
Frequently Asked Questions Expand How many days will I be expected to commit to? Days and times for volunteering can be flexible and may vary depending on the team or activity you are supporting. However, YS does ask volunteers to be consistent with the days and times they sign up for. How will I be supporting young people at YS? You will be working with other YS volunteers, youth workers or wellbeing practitioners to support young people in learning new skills, develop important interpersonal skills, gain confidence and self-esteem, seek advice and reduce the risk of becoming involved in unsafe activity, such as drugs and alcohol misuse. Are there set days and times for volunteers to help? This will depend which team and activities you are supporting. A lot of our work runs at the same times each week so you will usually be given set days and times for volunteering. Can I claim for travel expenses? We will reimburse certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with your volunteering for us, for example, mileage costs; these will be paid at the same rate as staff travel (please Refer to ‘YS Travel & Subsistence Policy’ for full details). What training and induction will I be required to do? In addition to the information in this document, you will receive information about which team or project you will be supporting and will be expected to familiarise yourself with the policies and procedures available on our website. We require you to complete our Safeguarding and Child Protection training and Health and Safety training as a minimum. Are volunteers assigned to a supervisor? Yes, all volunteers will be assigned to a supervisor who they will have regular contact with and scheduled feedback sessions, where possible, every 6-8 weeks to discuss your volunteering role. This will also provide an opportunity to explore any successes, discuss any problems or complaints you may have and reflect on your volunteering. Will I need a DBS check and how do I get one? Yes, all adults working with children and young people will require a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) enhanced criminal record check. Steps for applying for a DBS: Do you have one already? If so, let us know. It will need to be an original, hardcopy of your DBS and dated within the last 3 months. If you do not have a DBS, you will need to apply for one with Young Somerset which we will pay for.
What is the application process? Expand Apply using the application form link. Apply for your DBS / share existing certificate and letter. We will contact your referees and obtain your references. Set up an informal interview with appropriate Young Somerset staff.
Who should I contact about my application? Expand Email: people@youngsomerset.org.uk Phone: 01278 722 100
Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners Young Somerset is seeking to recruit a new wave of Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners to start in September 2024. Expand Do you have a passion for supporting children, young people and families? Are you a people person, able to work autonomously and collaboratively to make a difference? Are you an enthusiastic multi-tasker and passionate about mental health and wellbeing? Have you got experience of working with children and young people for a minimum of 2 years? Young Somerset is seeking to recruit a new wave of Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners to start in September 2024. An opportunity to join our dynamic and ever-growing Mental Health and Wellbeing Team. We believe in looking after our staff, recognising good practice, and providing opportunities for progression and development. As a Trainee EMHP you will be joining a diverse team offering both clinical and non-clinical support to young people and families across Somerset. You will be working with a variety of partners in a range of community settings including schools and shared spaces across the county. As part of Young Somerset, you will also have the opportunity to learn and be involved in the wider work of our organisation. EMHPs deliver low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LI-CBT) to children, young people and families in Somerset, either 1:1 or in a group. EMHPs also deliver the whole school approach to mental health by supporting schools to embed a mentally healthy culture and environment. EMHPs will be working as part of the Mental Health Support Team which is delivered in partnership with Somerset Foundation Trust CAMHS service and supported by Somerset Council Educational Psychology Service. The post holder will attend all taught and self-study days required by the education provider (this will be hybrid study either in Exeter or Bristol), as specified within the National Low Intensity curriculum and work in the service for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills. At Young Somerset our work goes further for young people by inspiring them and collaborating widely for high quality outcomes. We are currently operating through a blend of digital and face to face work. The role may also require some countywide travel. Please read the job description along with Young Somerset’s Competency Framework For an informal chat about the EMHP role, please contact: Gemma Fitzjohn, Service Manager or Alex Murphy, Team Leader Email: [email protected] [email protected] Salary: £24,379 Hours: 37 hours per week Contract: Permanent Start Date: September 2024 - date to be confirmed Closing Date: Midday - Wednesday 1st May 2024 Interview Date/s: 16th May -Selection Day-venue TBC Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd May -Formal interviews for shortlisted candidates-venue TBC To apply, complete the application form and disability questionnaire and email to [email protected]. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if suitable candidates are found so would encourage you to apply at your earliest convenience. Interviews will be held at a location to be confirmed. This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check. To discover more about working for Young Somerset, click here: https://www.youngsomerset.org.uk/why-work-for-us