Where youth work meets politics (with a big P)
Today, with my Lib Dem hat on, I have been with a bunch of bloggers to Henley to interview our candidate in the by election, Stephen Kearney. I was privileged to get to ask the first question, what had motivated him to want to be involved in politics? His answer was unexpected, but music to my ears!Stephen told the story of how as a teenager he had got involved with a project called Focus. He and other young people had been hanging around on the streets and got to meet a youth worker, one committed to experiential learning - who worked with the young people to develop a Cafe and Theatre and other groups from a building they took over. He reflected that the young people themselves were empowered to run everything, they became directors, managers, developing a huge range of skills in the process. And then as the youth club fell into disrepair the youth worker worked with them to reflect about what had gone wrong and what they needed to do to resolve the problems - linking what we do to the impact it has and making the link between personal growth and actions. This learning had influenced the rest of the course of his life. Learning how you influence policy, support communities and encourage them to take action.
Stephen is CEO of Regenerate Trust and over the years has worked to empower community based organisations to make a difference. His comitment to young people shines through everything he says, he was involved in setting up the UK Youth Parliament and sees engaging young people within their communities and empowering them to take action as being key to responding to so many of the issues that impact upon the electorate.
Whether or not Stephen is elected in Henley on 26th June I have no doubt it will not be long before he is an MP - and one who will be a real champion for young people and youth work.
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!