13 Years At Young Gloucestershire – My Journey

Alicia Wynn (Lis) (Chief Operations Manager), discusses her 13 Year Journey with YG. How she started out and the position she is in now.

The last 13 years have been a remarkable journey and a genuine privilege. Without doubt, this whirlwind of a career at YG has been the most rewarding years of my professional life.

Thirteen years ago, shortly after having my second child, I was preparing to begin a full-time degree in Youth Work. As part of the course, I needed to secure a work placement quickly. Fortunately, the stars aligned and I came across the opportunity to interview with YG. Whilst this was only for a position working one evening a week in a youth club, which was the only role available at the time, that role marked the beginning of my professional career in youth work.

As is often the case in youth work, that initial decision led to a diverse and rewarding career involving a wide range of experiences, challenges and achievements, both fun and chaotic, with incredibly proud moments throughout. Working for a small charity, as YG was in those early years meant being willing to contribute wherever needed. Over the years I have done a bit of everything, I have worked across urban and rural youth clubs, NEET drop-ins, support for young parents, under-18 club nights, school groups, residentials and group work. I have also taken on responsibilities including Designated Safeguarding Lead, teaching, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead, staff management, training and multi-agency coordination.

There have also been some less conventional aspects of the role. Working within a small organisation has, at various points, involved gardening, jumping on skips, helping with removals, cleaning, plumbing, fixing things and participating in radio and television interviews. These experiences are perhaps a reflection of the varied nature of working in the voluntary and community sector, where flexibility and a willingness to contribute are often just as important as formal responsibilities. Looking back, I have genuinely loved every single minute of it.

I have, in many ways, professionally grown alongside YG, and the organisation looks very different today from the one I encountered at my first interview. At the time, I found myself sitting in what appeared to be a combination of office and storeroom on the top floor of a rather tired building, in an organisation with around 30 staff.

Despite the circumstances, I remember leaving that interview knowing that YG was where I wanted to be. Its values, ethos and culture aligned strongly with my own, and 13 years later, that sense of connection remains.

My role has changed significantly over that time, but it continues to provide the same sense of challenge, purpose, enjoyment and pride. Although I no longer have as much direct contact with young people as I would like, my motivation remains rooted in ensuring that every young person can access the support they need from someone they trust, enabling them to achieve their goals and raise their aspirations.

Today, my role involves ensuring that our frontline delivery is of the highest possible quality; that our organisational culture remains inclusive, supportive and values-led; that we deliver effectively and report well on our contracts; and that we continue to diversify our income and develop strong collaborations and partnerships. It also involves ensuring that YG has a meaningful voice within strategic work across the county.

This is undoubtedly a very different role from the one-night-a-week youth club position I started with. However, the purpose remains unchanged.

Perhaps that is what makes me most proud when I reflect on the last 13 years: despite the considerable changes in my role and in the organisation itself, the values and purpose that brought me to YG in the first place remain at the heart of what I do