Celebrating National Youth Work Week

Celebrating National Youth Work Week: From Resident to Youth Worker

For National Youth Work Week, we’re celebrating one of our incredible youth workers whose story captures the true spirit of what YMCA St Paul’s Youth Project stands for – nurturing growth, and providing opportunities within our communities.

We spoke to PS about his journey with us

“I was a resident of YMCA and was jobless, desperate to get involved in something. I didn’t want to just sit in my room and do nothing.”

Back home in Iran, he had earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science and had begun a Master’s in Nutrition, but when he came to the UK, he had to leave his documents behind and couldn’t use his qualifications.

That all changed when the housing team introduced him to George from the Youth Team. “After chatting to him, he offered me the opportunity to become part of the Youth Team which is how how my journey began.”

Building Confidence Through Sport

For PS, sport and fitness are powerful tools for transformation. “The first thing sport can teach young people is discipline, routine, and being humble,” he explains. “Gym sessions encourage interaction as they support each other. I’m there to help them, but not to push them.”

He’s seen how physical activity can spark motivation and confidence in young people who might have started out unsure of themselves. “After a few weeks, they have purpose and confidence. They feel good about themselves and learn teamwork and communication which are important skills that transfer into every area of life.”

He also highlights the importance of creating a safe, caring environment: “Young people learn from mistakes here. When they see that someone cares, acknowledges them, and listens, they feel respected.”

A Community That Transforms Lives

“YMCA helped me stand on my feet,” he says. Moving from a small city to London was a big change, but he found belonging and stability through the YMCA community. “I learned how to live with other people, how to save money, and how to improve my situation.”

His time at YMCA didn’t just give him a career, it also reignited his passion for sport. “I used to take part in fitness competitions, but I stopped for over five years because I had no stability. After starting my job with the Youth Team, I competed again, and won a 3rd place medal!”

He’s also proud of how far he’s come personally: “These opportunities have improved my English, and that’s helped me integrate into the community and culture more easily.”

The Rewards of Youth Work

When asked what he finds most rewarding, he said: “The best moment is when I see young people improve. They’re like my younger siblings, and I’m so proud of them. Some of them are now working towards competitions and tournaments. This is from starting with little to no knowledge.”

Seeing their confidence grow gives him real joy. “When I see their progress and they realise they’ve achieved more than they thought, it thrills me – I want to jump out of my skin!”

He’s also proud of the inclusive environment he’s helped to build: “I’ve brought young people from different backgrounds together, and they respect each other. That’s something special.”

Looking to the Future

Originally, PS thought he would move on after gaining his personal training qualification, but things changed. “I plan to be here longer than I thought. I want to see more development in my sessions and watch the young people continue to grow.”

His next goal is to regain his nutrition qualification and keep expanding the support he offers. “I want to see where things go from there,” he tells us.

YMCA St Paul’s Youth Project is a registered charity delivering Youth Services and is a subsidiary of YMCA St Paul’s Group. It delivers a broad range of activities for young people in our communities.

With our free activities for young people, we offer safe spaces to explore who they are, make good decisions, increase their self-esteem, develop interpersonal skills and build emotional resilience — giving them the confidence and skills they need to live, learn, work and achieve.

All our term-time youth clubs, projects and activities are free and provide safe and inviting spaces for young people, so you can try new things or simply hang out with friends. Experienced and qualified youth workers are there to provide advice and guidance and run a range of activities for you to grow, develop, and reach your full potential.