What a career in Community Development and Youth Work looks like

Deciding on a career path can seem like a tremendous task to begin with. After studying multiple subjects for years, you finally have an idea about what you enjoy learning and potentially a career to pursue. The next step is to look for a degree in the industry you want to head into.

In this blog, we will look at vital roles in the community and what they entail for those who pursue them. This industry is about helping others, from those who struggle with health conditions to the youth who need some more guidance from adults. At the end of the blog, you’ll know more about what it takes to have such a rewarding role and be inspired by those who are already in the industry.

Potential careers

There are plenty of options to choose from if you want to work in the community. Perhaps you have volunteered in the past and enjoyed the feeling of giving something back to the local area if so, you should consider this type of career. One of the most popular roles to embark upon is becoming a social worker.

The job role seems vast, but there are many different types of social work that you can enjoy as a career. The overall description is to help those in need, who have a condition. A popular choice for many is to work with children, protecting them from abuse, neglect or other forms of mistreatment. Many children across the country are vulnerable, either at home with parents who are struggling, or in the system where they live in foster or children homes.

The day-to-day actions of a children’s social worker are going around from place-to-place to check in on children, talking to them, finding out more about what is going on in their life as well as the adults who are responsible for them. From there, they identify the child’s wellbeing and safety in their current situation to help other authorities determine if the child needs a change of situation.

In the spotlight

The majority of social workers are hardworking and selfless people who deserve special recognition for helping others. One person, who has recently been rewarded for her incredible dedication is Louise Pashley, who was announced Social Worker of the Year in 2019. She has dedicated her entire career to helping local children who are leaving care and building their young adult lives and has now received the recognition she fully deserves.

If you are looking to begin your career helping youth members in your local community, then embarking upon a Community Development and Youth Work degree is the perfect first step. To find out more information on the incredible courses on offer at the University of Bolton, click here.