Karen Jenkins, centre manager, W13 Youth and Connexions Centre, Ealing, London
Friday, February 19, 2010
Karen Jenkins is working on developing the W13 Youth and Connexions Centre, making it free of charge to all attendees.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I wanted to go into the army, but I lost my parents by the age of 14 so my plans were changed. I went to boarding school for two years. After leaving school I was homeless, so I lived on the streets in London ducking and diving.
What changed?
I met a couple that lived near my squat and started childminding for them. As time went by I had a family of my own. I always engaged my children in lots of activities and their friends would end up coming too. I enquired about using a community centre to start a youth club, and the council advised me to start a tenants' and residents' association, which I did, and ran a well-attended youth club.
How did it become a job?
I got a part-time youth work position in Northolt. After three weeks, I talked one of the youth officers into putting me on the Brunel University Level 2 course. After gaining a part-time qualification, I went on to become a worker in charge and then assistant manager. I did my JNC qualification and then became a centre manager.
And then to W13?
I've had the autonomy to develop the centre, making it free of charge to all attendees. Our strengths are that we've handed the programme over to young people - they determine what they want from the facility, and the team find ways to help them make it happen.