Where youth work meets politics (with a big P)
Welcome to my blog. I hope you will join me either regularly or from time to time to pontificate on a range of issues. I hope sometimes you will laugh with me, sometimes cry, sometimes share my anger, or joy, but never get bored……….If you do find your eyelids growing heavy and you are losing the will to live, TELL ME QUICK! This will be my mix of diary and opinion, but I trust the opinion pieces will be enough to get you joining in or shouting back!
Jack Chat will never duck political issues, but if you can handle me being really Policital with a big P……..as they say on Amazon - If you liked this............ you’ll love this.....I hope!
About LINDA JACK
I have spent most of my life in youth work getting the bug as a teenager. After leaving school I started on an art pre dip course but then ran away to join the army! This, surprisingly, lasted nearly 4 years, working as an analyst in Special Intelligence. This was also my first attempt at collective bargaining - it didn't go down too well and I was threatened with a charge of mutiny - the only charge punishable by death!
After doing a combined teaching and youth work degree I went on to teach for a short while but then went into fulltime youth work.
During my youth work career I have been a club based, outreach and detached worker. I also represented Unison on the JNC and as chair of the Youth and Community Workers Forum for several interesting years.
I now work on the FSA Financial Capability Strategy as a Youth Policy Adviser with particular responsibility for developing our strategy to meet the needs of young people who are not in education employment or training.
I have been a local councillor and parliamentary candidate and am currently a Prospective European Parliamentary Candidate (PEPC) for the Eastern Region. I also sit on the Federal Policy and International Relations Committees of the Liberal Democrats.
I am a trustee of ElijahTrust ( a charity working with the 20% Arab minority in Israel) and chair of Compowerment a charity committed to community cohesion.
When I get time to myself I love walking, talking (!) spending time with friends and family and anything artistic. For me, my eyes are the greatest gift God gave me and this is the sense I couldn't survive without.
I have two adorable children, Lara and Ravi and an even more adorable granddaughter Sumaiyah!