Introducing Ben Williams from Kicsters, Inspiring Youth Award Winner
How would you explain what you do to someone completely unfamiliar with your work? I work for an organisation called Kids in Communication as a manager on the Kicsters project. Kicsters is a digital pop-up youth club supporting young people aged 10 - 18 and living in the Walsall. Young people are typically from hard-to-reach communities, some struggling with disabilities or poor mental health and in need of support. By providing digital activities such as digital graffiti, photography, filmography and web design we are providing opportunities for young people to learn new skills which will equip them to make positive changes within their community as well as prepare them for the world of work.
We also deliver accredited awards to recognise their achievements. My favourite aspect of the job is meeting with young people and helping them achieve their aspirations for themselves, their families and their community.
What is your proudest moment from the work you’ve done in your community? My proudest moment is seeing the results of the work young people have undertaken through the Kicsters project and the development of personal growth which can be seen in each of them. This makes the job very rewarding for me.
What floats your boat outside of work? I'm a big lover of photography outside of work, especially landscape photography. I also like to volunteer my time to support others through the church I attend, youth groups, bereavement groups, etc.
What is your vision for Walsall in the next five years, especially within your sector? What would need to happen and what support would be needed to make it a reality? My vision is to see the voices of young people amplified in Walsall so that they can have their say on what Walsall will become for them in five years' time. Through the Kicsters project we are working with young people to develop a youth forum and ambassadors programme to achieve this vision.
What have you learnt from the last nine months that you will be applying in your area of work going forward? I have learnt that there is a place for delivering youth work virtually. Going forward I'll be exploring how we can deliver both face to face and virtual sessions as part of the Kicsters project.