Brenda and Simon have clocked up more than 50 years of working with young people between them. They turn up week in, week out, and do their thing. Both of them are just as enthusiastic about youth work now as they were when they started out. I don't know how they do it. They really are very special.
The trouble is, it's easy to forget just how special some people are.
And even easier to forget to tell them how much you appreciate their work.
It's not intentional. It's just that somehow taking time to say thank you seems to keep getting relegated to the bottom of a very long list of things to do.
Last week, I got a chance to tell Brenda and Simon just how much we appreciate their work. Southend Council organises an annual event recognising people who have made a difference to the lives of young people. It's mainly a school thing. But this year we got a set of nomination papers. And you know me and awards: I just can't resist.
So after a great deal of deliberation, we agreed to nominate Brenda and Simon. And this week we were all invited to the council chambers to celebrate the dedication and achievement of people from all walks of educational life. It wasn't quite the Oscars, but we did have the director of education, the mayor in full regalia and one of the best buffets I've seen at the civic centre. And of course, lots of very happy people.
From long-serving head teachers to cooks and cleaners, it was really good to see such a diverse range of people have their contribution to supporting young people publicly recognised. But it was even better to see youth workers up there with the best of them.
Not everyone appreciates that youth work, as well as youth workers, has been around for a long time. So it was really great to see informal educators being valued alongside our colleagues from formal education. It may have been one small step for Brenda and Simon, but it was a giant leap for youth work in Southend.
