29 January 2019
This post was written by Kerrie Starkie, Representative for the North West on UK Youth Voice. You can read more blogs from UK Youth Voice by clicking here and follow them on twitter @UKYV.
Looking back on just the weekend alone it’s been one massive adventure.
First of all we had Blue Monday (which you can read about on my previous blog). Tuesday was one of those chill days before the big day Wednesday.
Just walking down by the sea in Morecambe at 5am gives you a new aspect of life. A clear head maybe. You don’t understand the feeling till you experience it yourself. After my 6 hour train journey I was still in great spirits excited for the next 2 days. Arriving at Avon Tyrrell and being able to join in on all the fun and team building activities with the UK Youth staff. Obviously the beige team won! But being able to be silly with my team was hilarious, especially with the space-hopper race.
Being able to sit down with Anna Smee (CEO of UK Youth) and talk about my struggles, passions and how to get to where I dream to be was truly amazing. Anna seemed to be the only person who listened carefully, even understanding me when I hardly understood myself. Afterwards during the UK Youth staff party came the dancing – being able to have a laugh and dance away all life’s problems was truly memorable for me.
I was lucky enough to be able to run a workshop with UK Youth Voice Alumni member, Maya and Policy & Youth Engagement Manager, Hannah. We trained staff members on youth participation and how different departments at UK Youth could incorporate more young people into their work. Both sessions ran smoothly and it seemed that people really enjoyed them. We are hoping with staff being trained that UK Youth will engage many more young people in their work each year.
In the evening just before I was due to leave, Anna recommend a book to me called Educated by Tara Westover. It’s about a young woman who, having never gone to school – not even for a day – started higher education at the age of seventeen and only ten years later completed a PhD in history at Cambridge University. I managed to finish reading that book by the next day. But since reading that book I have felt a tiny light burn bright inside me giving me the strength and hope to make my passions, dreams and beliefs come true.
I may not always feel like this but I can 100% say these 2 days have started a change in me that I’d never thought possible. My passion is writing and public speaking and I’m going to do my best to make my passion a reality.