It’s never too late to follow your passion

My route, however, was slightly more unconventional.

I spent much of my working career in sales. It meant a focus on targets, performances and ultimately, profit.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I joined the thousands of others across London in being furloughed. It was a testing and challenging time and was one that, looking back, a moment that helped change my life.

I had always had a passion to work with young people and did some mentoring here and there where I could, in between work in sales. I made connections and it was during the pandemic that I made the leap of faith into youth work.

I got a job with the Exit Foundation who had just secured investment from London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) as a consortium partner for the community-led My Ends programme in Newham.

I now provide intensive mentoring and support to young people exiting street life. Young people who are involved in gangs or vulnerable to grooming and exploitation. It’s deeply fulfilling and rewarding, knowing I’ve flipped working in sales to something that is benefitting young people and the community I care about.

I’ve seen first-hand the impact youth workers have on a young person’s life. It’s life-changing.

But as a society, the role that youth workers play needs to be recognised, supported and invested in.

That’s where the VRU’s Rise Up programme comes in. Supported and run by London Youth, the Rise Up programme fills an identified gap. It brings the youth sector together through training, upskilling and leadership development.

I went into my first sessions full of awe after being introduced to 30 other youth practitioners. It was challenging, but the learning, tools, peer work, and activities gave me clarity, focus and knowledge that I integrate into each and every session with my young people.

Rise Up helped validate who I was as a youth worker, provide important long-lasting connections with other like-minded professionals and practitioners, but perhaps most importantly, sharpened my leadership skills to become the best youth worker I can be for the young people I work with and support.  

I now have a youth work certificate which means a lot to me, particularly as someone who started a new career at middle age. It demonstrated that it’s never too late to follow your passion.

It was such an important step in my progression in youth work – a job that is never more vital in supporting young people and the challenges they face today.

I’ve used my experience and new-found confidence to secure additional work in delivering good practice workshops for school practitioners, parenting workshops and mentoring coaching.

I’d strongly urge youth workers in London to join the programme – applications are open now – or even those considering a change of career but have a passion for serving their community. My story is proof that it’s never too late.

For more information about the VRU and London Youth’s Rise Up programme, including how to apply, visit: https://londonyouth.org/what-we-do/rise-up-youth-practitioners-leadership-programme/

Yemisi Cedar is a frontline youth practitioner for the Exit Foundation in Newham, London.