STORY 001
Emily Brierley, 24, Apprentice Youth Worker
A full-time worker since September 2016, a volunteer since 2008 and a young person since 2001-2008
We asked Emily about what she loves about her job, why she does it, what’s the toughest situation she has been in as a youth worker & much more. Here’s what she had to say:
What do you love about being a Youth Worker? Why do you do this?
I love that I am able to see that I have made a difference in a young person’s life no matter how big or small that maybe. I love how no day is the same that every day is a new challenge even if it is working with the same group of people.
What’s the best thing that has happened recently with a young person?
There is a young person who has been with e:merge since she was in year 7 at school and has now moved on to college in a different town which for her is a huge step and something which a couple of years ago she wouldn’t have thought she would have achieved. She has come on so much over the years with help from 121’s in school, work within the community that she has attended and also from attending our youth congregation ‘xstream’ and the smaller cell groups. She has recently become a volunteer with us working within a local community alongside us which she is amazing at.
What’s the toughest situation/young person you have worked with recently?
On a Tuesday there is an alternative education group in ‘Fit 4 School’ these boys are a lovely group but can often wind each other up and upset one another. Last week one of the boys got frustrated at the fact he wasn’t able to play pool for something he had done previously. He then decided he would make it known that he wasn’t happy with the decision made by the staff. Even though I am not specifically on that session I am in and around the building so am able to help out when it may be needed. So this young person decided he would cause some disruption in and around the building which also lead to a few of the other boys on the session getting involved. This lasted for most of the afternoon and resulted in some damage being caused. The whole way through this happening all I could do was prayer for this young person, knowing that inside he was hurting so bad and just doesn’t know how to deal with those feelings and being angry is the only way for him to do that.
How do you sustain/motivate yourself in your work?
My motivation in the my work is seeing the difference I make to the young people’s lives and the impact our work as an organisation makes. The teams we work in are also very supportive and work well together.
Why is e:merge needed?
I believe that e:merge is needed because without e:merge a lot of the young people we work with would not have any accountability. We also strive to make a difference within the communities and bringing communities together in a positive way. Coming through e:merge as young person to being a volunteer to now being a full time member of staff is all because e:merge were there to support me throughout my school time and the teenage times when it was tough. E:merge help so many young people in realising who they truly are.
How would you like to see people support us?
It would be nice if members of the communities we work in and also the wider communities could maybe start to give to e:merge financially or even just to support us and the work we do.