Hi Harriet

Hello!

So to kick start this interview, please let us know what you do at The Door.

Ok, I am a Sessional Youthworker and I work across almost all of The Door’s youth clubs in the district. It’s great working in so many spaces because I can be inspired by one centre and use that learning in another.

That’s great, could you tell us a bit more about what it means to be a Sessional Youthworker?

Of course, it means I am someone who is present in centres to facilitate youth club sessions and activities but without the added responsibility and admin of a Community Youthworker. Although some of us also lead sessions. For example, I often lead in Avening which is nice.

Excellent. So how did you end up as a Sessional Youthworker?

I’ve always volunteered or worked alongside young people even since I was a teenager. My mum is a volunteer mentor at The Door and when she saw the vacancy she said I should apply. I also knew one of the team at The Door already who said I should go for it. It sounded amazing and it is!

Glad to hear it. So now you have been here for a while, what is your favourite part of your role?

The best part for me is when you have young people that a perhaps more challenging or less receptive to youthworkers. But because we don’t give up on them, when the tables turn and they begin to trust you or even just talk to us then that is amazing.

I’m also supporting the delivery of our young leaders programme which is really rewarding, seeing how the young people grow over the 6 weeks to become more confident in themselves is great to see.

So if that’s the best bit, what is more challenging?

Easy – admin! I’m nowhere near as motivated to answer emails or check messages as I am to support young people. But I do get around to things eventually!

I’m sure you aren’t the only one.

Now what are you looking forward to in the future of The Door?

I love cooking so I’m always looking for an excuse to cook or bake with young people. It’s a great way to get them engaged often with those that are less likely to join in with the usual conversations. So I’m looking forward to all the sessions with food over the next few months and beyond.

Great! And talking of food, that takes us to the less sensible part of our time together.

Ok..

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Is that one genre of food or one plate?

Let’s say plate.

Ok, so for a balanced nutritious and delicious meal I would go for, steak, tender stem broccoli, garlic mash, grilled courgette and some kind of amazing sauce.

And would that be enjoyed while watching any sports?

NO!

Oh, wait. I do like F1…

Any particular team?

I follow Ferrari a bit, but it’s mainly just watching the whole mess of it all unfold, including all the politics behind it.

And is there anything else we should know about the world of Harriet?

I love cats! We have 3 of them at home because when we adopted one, it turned out she was a mum-to-be, we were very restrained and only kept two of her kittens.

That must have been quite a surprise!

Yes it was.

And finally is there a quote you would like to share with everyone?

This is a translation of an Italian quote I like: “If you do good deeds, forget about them. If you do ill, bear it in mind.”

Thank you