Ellie secures trainee youth worker role
The former Coleg Llandrillo student is working with the Brighter Futures charity thanks to funding from The Neumark Foundation
Former Coleg Llandrillo student Ellie Wilkinson has secured a job as a trainee youth worker with Rhyl charity Brighter Futures.
Ellie recently studied the Level 3 Diploma in Uniformed Protective Services at the Rhyl campus.
She was offered the job with Brighter Futures following a recruitment process involving not only the charity’s staff, but also the young people they support.
Ellie now works alongside the charity’s experienced youth worker, drawing on her experiences of working with young people through activities with North Wales Police and through her involvement in local football.
She said: “I am really proud to have been offered this opportunity, and I am really enjoying the job so far.
“Growing up in Rhyl, I experienced challenges and difficulties myself, and struggled without support. It is fantastic to be able to support other young people to help them create better lives for themselves. I really look forward to developing my skills and experience with the hope that I can make a difference.”
Brighter Futures works to reduce social isolation, loneliness and poverty in Rhyl, providing support and services to children, young people, parents, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The opportunity for Ellie to join Brighter Futures came about after the charity made a funding application to the Neumark Foundation.
The Foundation works with organisations that positively impact the lives of children and young people across North Wales. They were so impressed with the work being done by Brighter Futures, they offered their support to help fund the trainee role.
Brighter Futures CEO Shane Owen said: “The support from The Neumark Foundation has enabled us to employ Ellie as a trainee youth worker.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us, as Ellie is a young person who has grown up in Rhyl, and has a good understanding of our community.
“We hope this will help us shape our activities and services, while providing new energy and perspectives to feed into our future plans for succession and sustainability. It is also very exciting for us to demonstrate to local young people that opportunities can and do arise for local young people to learn and progress into employment.”
Rebecca Neumark, CEO of The Neumark Foundation, said: “At the Neumark Foundation, nothing is ever set in stone for us. When we see an opportunity that will effectively make a positive difference for children and young people, we will do everything we can to support, sometimes going over and above expectations and specific asks.”
She added: “It’s such a pleasure to meet Ellie. I know she is really keen to make the most of this opportunity, and it will make such a difference for the young people she is supporting.
“Brighter Futures truly is inspiring, and it is a privilege to be able to support them in their development.”
Are you interested in a career in the police or other public services? The Level 3 Diploma in Uniformed Protective Services is designed to prepare you for employment in the Armed Forces, Police, Fire Service, Prison Service and other community and emergency service-related organisations. Click here for more information about Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s courses.