CAREER WISE

Your Job : I develop links with young people from the Blackburn with Darwen area who are due to be released from prison in order to identify their needs and work with them at Blackburn YMCA when they return to the Blackburn with Darwen area.

What does the work involve? Providing a range of support to meet the individual needs of the young person. This could include, for example, housing and education advice, career guidance, issues relating to offending related behaviour or even a place where the young people could attend to participate in team building activities.

How many other members of the Asian community work in similar roles? There are two Asian workers employed at Blackburn YMCA. The Blackburn and Darwen Youth Service employs approximately 14 Asian workers in a combination of full and part time posts.

What kind of experiences do you need to work in a role similar to Dilip's?

It is very helpful to have had youth and community work training, which ideally would include experience as well as theory-based learning. However it is essential to have the ability to engage with the young person and empathise with their life experiences, so experience of working with a variety of different youngsters is useful. You should be interested in youth culture and want to hear what young people have to say.

How important is it to recruit more members from the ethnic minorities?

It is important that the appropriate people are recruited to ensure that the needs of the young people and the local community are met. Although there are many Asian people living in the Blackburn area, project workers do not work exclusively with Asian young people, but youngsters from all ethnic backgrounds.

In some cases, Asian workers are able to engage with Asian young people a bit more easily. But when working with young people, empathy with the individual and a good understanding of youth culture are just as effective as understanding and being part of their ethnic culture.