CYP Now - How I Got Here: Sharon Davies, chief executive, Young Enterprise

I left home at an early age, and after several jobs including potato picking and working on a turkey farm, I first came into contact with youth work when I was 19, working in a supermarket.

Sharon Davies: "I became determined to give all young people, no matter their background, an equal opportunity to thrive."

Encountering youth work

A youth worker spotted me dealing with a group of misbehaving boys outside the shop and saw potential in me to go into youth work myself. That youth worker – Terry – went on to become an important mentor for me and was a source of guidance through my early career.

I took my first part-time youth work job in Birkenhead, in a very disadvantaged area. I was a detached youth worker on the estate and in schools, providing health education, organising social activities on Friday evenings and outdoor residentials in North Wales at weekends. It was a massive learning experience and taught me the importance of building trust and being consistent with young people.

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