From Volunteer to Qualified Youth Worker: Emma’s Journey with In The Mix Project

Emma's role at In The Mix Project started as a volunteer. The commitment to this grew over a few years, into her becoming a Level 3 qualified youth worker, supporting several areas of planning, delivery, and events. She became an employee at In The Mix Project a couple of months ago.

Emma shares that what drives her to work with young people is a deep belief that “every young person has a gift, and things that make them special.” As a youth worker, she is driven to “be a part of them realising these gifts, and their potential.”

One story that highlights the impact of her work took place during the summer holidays:

“We ran a film making day. At the start of this session, one young person was quite isolated and keeping himself out of the group. By the end, he was fully engaged with the activity, other young people, and staff.”

Moments like this remind Emma why youth work matters — small shifts in confidence can lead to big steps in self-belief.

When asked about the challenges young people in Somerset currently face, she points to transport and rurality as common barriers. “In the town where we are based, buses run only every 2/3 hours,” she explains. “We address this by offering transport where possible or needed, and doing detached work.”

She believes that what makes ITMP’s approach stand out is its size and consistency. “While being a small team can bring challenges, it also has positives. ITMP offers an opportunity to build consistent relationships with young people, more easily than a large organisation who may have different staff working a programme from week to week.”

For anyone considering youth work as a career, her advice is straightforward and honest:

“I would tell them that youth work is a career that can demand a lot from you, but also can give a lot to you.”

She also emphasises the importance of having youth support available in her area of Somerset. “My town does have a wide variety of activities for young people. However, these are generally highly structured things like sports teams, uniformed organisations, or music lessons. It is important to have ITMP in the area, as we can adapt to the specific needs of every young person.”

When asked why she chose ITMP, her answer reflects both personal and practical motivations:

“I chose ITMP as my daughter attended holiday provision. At the time (and still now), it offered the best provision in terms of range of activities, location, food, and cost. Over time I got to know the team, and gained understanding of the help I could provide.”

From volunteer beginnings to becoming a qualified youth worker, her journey captures the essence of In The Mix Project: empowering both young people and those who support them to grow, learn, and thrive. Through dedication, empathy, and belief in every young person’s potential, Emma continues to make a lasting difference in her community.