Dave is an outstanding youth worker with a genuine love for working with young people which began at the age of 17 when he became a peer mentor within his local youth club. Dave’s passion for youth work became a real heart driven goal to pursue as life’s vocation after studying performing arts at college. Dave spent a few years volunteering for different youth organisations, after which he took a year out with Youth for Christ in 1998, which only confirmed Dave’s vocation of becoming a professional youth worker, which led him to gain a degree at university, with a professional JNC.

Dave grew up on a north London council estate and then spent many years working in Leicester, a very diverse and multicultural city where he headed up large teams of volunteers in youth work provisions in different areas within the city, areas which were socio-economically deprived, dealing with poor housing, alcohol, drugs, teenage pregnancies, violence, prostitution and much more, all which can bring a variety of challenges when providing effective support and targeting intervention. This type of work requires constant evaluation and flexibility, ensuring effectiveness, all which Dave is highly skilled in doing, witnessing first hand the transformation in the lives of young people, families and positive changes in the communities through the provisions provided.

Dave is a unique relational youth worker, having a gifted outlook and ability to relate and interact with all young people. Dave’s particular strengths are working with young people that are socially disengaged and those that have the difficulty engaging with provisions. Dave continually aims to invest in the lives of young people, having worked with charities in the UK & abroad. Dave embraces the diversity of young people, with a focus on poverty and deprivation, his aim is to be a voice for young people, while encouraging them to develop to advocate for themselves with appropriate support.

Dave’s vast experience of 28 years working alongside and with young people, especially through partnership and multiagency work, has really shaped Dave into a realist and connective youth worker, with a well rounded perspective with optimistic approaches.

As well as leading teams and training volunteers, Dave has led lessons & assemblies within primary and secondary school for many years addressing concerns, sexual health, self-esteem, challenging behaviours, incorporating pastoral care. Dave has in the past provided holiday clubs and residential projects, enhancing current provisions. Having had experience in creative groups as well as coaching a variety of sports, Dave understands the value and importance of meeting the needs of young people, effective youth work is being relevant, not just running with a good idea. Dave spent 5 years working with Kent County Council, supporting local detached and schools work. Community work is very much part of Dave’s personal life too, heading up resident groups and transforming community spaces.

The ability to encourage and motivate teams is a strength of Dave’s, having experience in training staff, leading teams and with a vast knowledge of safe guarding systems, this really enables Dave to collaborate effective teams and produce high level of services for young people. Dave spent 8 years working within a local church setting in the coastal town of Folkestone, providing outstanding youth provisions for 100’s of young people weekly.

Having worked closely with social services over many years, Dave has a clearer perspective and understanding on systems that not only work with young people, but their families too, also the areas that require improvement and fall short of assisting those most in need, sadly system failings happen all to often and its to the detriment of the young people.

Dave’s love for youth work was founded in his love of helping others, very much part of his Christian faith. Dave specialises in producing safe and inclusive youth provision in the form of youth clubs, drop-ins and detached work with all encompassing equality, open access, fun, support and connective working practices.

Dave’s outstanding ability to relate, being relevant and realistic with young people really defines him as a unique youth worker, with an open, honest and supportive approach, Dave is an approachable, respected & recognised leader in the community.

A word from Dave:

“ I love being a youth worker, its so much more than a job, its my calling in life and I am ever more aware of how blessed I am to work with and alongside some amazing volunteers, colleagues and young people. 28 years have flown by, seeing much transformation and depletion of youth services in communities, which has been extremely hard to witness. Hayley & I launched FYP Youth Charity to meet the needs of the forgotten young people in local communities, those most effected by the cuts. I firmly believe that the investment in young people is a fundamental role of the local community; we need to support families, through honest and flexible working practices, providing intervention and services when needed. It's so important to encourage, guide and journey with young people, there are so many challenges that young people face in today’s society, as a youth worker my aim is to simple ‘be there’, making a positive change where needed. Youth work is exciting, it’s ever changing, the ability to adapt and continually learn is vital. The best part of my job is working with young people and another is being told that what I do makes a real difference, seeing that difference makes me even more thankful.