Tom’s Story

Detached Youth Worker

As a detached youth worker, I engage with young people in their own community, building positive relationships and discouraging participation in antisocial behaviour.

How it began

I am a Nigerian and I moved into the United Kingdom in 2021 to pursue a master’s programme in Social Work. I originally obtained a Doctor of Optometry degree/licence in Nigeria before I relocating to Liverpool.

Why MYA?

When I saw the advert and perused the necessary requirements, I saw that this was a very rewarding job. It provides an avenue for young people in Merseyside to better their lives, creating lasting change. This is the very core vision on which MYA is built.

Even though I had never worked as a detached youth worker, this form of youth work appealed to me and I decided to apply for the post.

The best bit

The best thing about my job is the positive relationships we are able to build and have built with young people. Accessing tough and deprived areas and relating with young people, sharing in their lived experiences and building trust to keep that relationship, is everything to me. The detached youth work team has done a lot in a short period of time and the management is super supportive.