My youth work journey began in 2022, when I was hired as a Play and Tech Worker at Blackburn Youth Zone at just 17 years old. At the time, I was young, inexperienced, and completely new to both the workplace and teaching others.
However, I was excited to take on this opportunity, learn new skills, and challenge myself. This experience became the beginning of my journey into youth work, allowing me to grow in confidence, develop my abilities, and discover my passion for supporting and inspiring young people.
The First Ever Makerzone Bespoke Program Launch
The Official Launch Of Our Maker Zone Projects:
The Concept:
When I first arrived at Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone, I was responsible for delivering weekly Friday sessions within the MakerZone space. I loved the opportunity to explore different activities and introduce young people to new creative experiences.
However, one challenge I faced was the limited time available during sessions, which made it difficult to teach more advanced skills in depth. I wanted to create an environment where young people could focus, develop their abilities, and explore creativity beyond a single session.
To achieve this, I proposed a six-week bespoke programme where young people could sign up and attend dedicated weekend sessions. This allowed participants to build specific creative and technical skills over time, develop confidence, and fully engage with the making process, which was approved and launched alongside a cooking program, too.
The Inspiration:
Our New Improved Space!
The Official Upgraded Relaunch
Due to various circumstances, the original programme was temporarily put on hold. One of the main factors was the upgrade of the MakerZone space, which introduced new equipment, tools, and resources.
Rather than restarting the programme in its original format, we decided to transform and improve the idea into a more focused project. The upgraded version placed a stronger emphasis on developing specific skills, building confidence, and allowing young people to explore their talents through more advanced creative activities.
Superhero Bespoke Project
Funko Pop Project
Big Blackburn Project
Scrapbook Project
Robotics Project
Stuffed Animal Project
Book Making Project
Sewing Project
Enterprise Project
