This week, 2nd-8th November 2026, is Youth Work Week – an annual celebration of the life-changing impact of youth work across the UK.
Organised by the National Youth Agency, this year’s theme, Where Futures Begin, celebrates the people and places where young people grow, belong and thrive. At Breakout, we wouldn’t be able to provide support to LGBTQ+ young people without the vital help from our incredible youth workers. Here, our Admin Officer Catlenn shares a little about her experience of youth work with Breakout.
I’ve always wanted to help people and work to make the world a better place. I know how it feels to be different, and I want to be working to make the world feel safer and brighter. I think there should be more hope in the world. I have worked with young people most of my life, but growing up I thought I was going to be a teacher. Youth work seems like a better fit for me though, as it’s more personal and I feel like I have more ability to support young people.
The best part of being a youth worker is definitely the young people! I also love the creativity of the job. One day you could be making spaghetti bridges, and the next day we are talking about LGBTQ+ policy changes with young people equally engaged in both.
As a youth worker, you get to know your young people well and because of this we can provide tailored support. When a young person opens up about their challenges, we can be very direct in our approach to support, and we go out of our way to help. I can see the impact in my group every week, when a young person arrives and the first thing they say is ‘I have had a bad week’ and in 10 minutes they are laughing and genuinely enjoying themselves. I feel thankful that I can be a part of something where I can help to create a space that lets someone be the truest version of themselves.
Youth work has helped me to be a better and more honest version of myself. It’s really challenged me to re-evaluate what authenticity means to me and what I value about myself. On my first day in group, I sat with a young person and they challenged why I was there. I was taken aback. Then I responded honestly with my story, and their whole face lit up. In that moment I realized that one of the most important things I can do to provide support, is just to be the most authentic version of myself and show that life goes on after youth and it gets better.
This is the kind of work where every day you must show up as the best form of yourself, try your best, make a mistake and then go home and think about what things you can do better next time – and then do it all again tomorrow! It is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. You really grow to care for the young people you work with, and you root for them so hard. When they tell you they’ve had a good day you cheer with them, and when they’ve had a bad day, you sit with their feelings and work with them to provide support. When you have a breakthrough with a young person, it’s so rewarding.
If you’re interested in volunteering as a youth worker for Breakout, we’d love to hear from you. Our volunteers help with the running of the groups – taking lead in activities or offering a young person a listening ear and some support and advice. Volunteers do not have to identify LGBTQ+; they just have to have an understanding of and empathy towards LGBTQ+ issues. As a Breakout volunteer, you will be given initial training and then offered ongoing training throughout your time with Breakout Youth. All volunteers are subject to a full DBS check. If you are interested in volunteering, please ask for an application pack here.
