Words by Steph Porter / Pic supplied by Urban Devotion Birmingham (UDB)
(Ed’s note – this column was written for the Erdington Local printed edition and first published on 15.11.24)
What did you used to want to be when you were older?
As a child, I wanted to be a teacher. Then, I wanted to be a stage manager in a theatre. Next, a social worker. Now, I’m a youth worker.
In 2023, The Prince’s Trust released new research on young people and aspirations, stating that since 2021, 57% of young people have lowered their long-term aspirations. A mind blowing and heart-breaking statistic suggesting another impact of COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis and other experiences on young people today. But why do these correlate?
I wonder if, for young people, the priorities have changed. Their dream jobs become insignificant in light of looking after their family, their mental health, and experiencing life in the present when so many aspects of their worlds have changed so drastically in the last five years.
At UDB, we are all about helping the young people of Erdington to hope and dream again. The first step to envisioning your future is knowing you have a voice in it, believing that you were created for something more than your current context.
Our youth volunteer program seeks to do this by giving opportunities to young people to grow and develop their skills by working with children and helping run events in their local area.
The program also includes leadership development and one-on-one mentoring, enabling the young people to discover more about themselves and in turn, discover more about their future.
If you’re passionate about helping young people to dream again, please get in touch.
For more on Urban Devotion Birmingham visit www.urbandevotion.org
Urban Devotion Birmingham is a key partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.
