Dorset Youth

I have been deeply honoured to serve as the CEO of Dorset Youth Association (DYA) for the past four years, and to be part of an organisation that champions young people, families, and voluntary organisations across Dorset. Dorset has a proud tradition of volunteerism and community organisations dedicated to improving lives, and I’m thrilled to contribute to that legacy through my work with DYA.

My journey in Dorset began in 2008 when I moved here to become the Area Youth Worker based in Sturminster Newton. I managed clubs across North Dorset, establishing a range of initiatives including open-access youth provision, school-based projects, and community-led programmes. We built a thriving Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programme and tackled local challenges by introducing innovative services such as a climbing wall, moped and off-road motorbike projects, outdoor activities, first aid training, babysitting courses, holiday provision, peer mentoring, and a senior member programme. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of volunteers and the invaluable contributions of the voluntary sector.

In 2015, I transitioned from the Youth Service to lead a Community Interest Company (CIC), delivering impactful projects within schools and local authorities across the UK. This role also saw me design and develop the Global Youth Ambassador Programme, which focused on global citizenship by connecting mainstream schools in the UK with international institutions. Over three years, this programme delivered training to over 2,000 young people aged 8–18 and provided 750+ students—many of whom were Pupil Premium students—with life-changing opportunities to travel abroad and engage with their peers in different countries, free of charge. It also facilitated professional development opportunities for teachers.

I’m excited to return to working closely with Dorset’s incredible young people, families, volunteers, and professionals. Together, I look forward to continuing the important work of empowering our communities and making a lasting difference.

I am the Finance Officer for Dorset Youth Association working full time from our Headquarters in Lubbecke Way, Dorchester. I started in 2001 on a part time basis and I manage the Associations finance and human resources together with ensuring the smooth running of the office and managing the venue hire.

Leaving extended education with a BEC National Diploma (Distinction) in Business Studies my career has been finance based having spent the early 10 years with Nat West Bank, working through all the clerical grades and gaining ‘Institute of Bankers’ qualifications. I then decided to focus on accountancy and gained Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification prior to my returning to the workplace after raising a family.

I have supported the Associations financial journey as it moved from hand written ledgers to excel workbooks and through to the dedicated finance software programmes we currently use. As a mum of 4 children I have used my skills to support their activities through a variety of voluntary roles - committee member for local playgroup, treasurer for the school PTFA and as a Scout Leader.

I believe young people are the key to the success and happiness of our local communities and am privileged to work for an organisation that endeavours to give young people the best opportunities in life.

I have been in post as the Youth Employment Team Leader at Dorset Youth since December 2021. My role is to help provide opportunities for young people to give them the skills and experience for the world of work. This includes helping young people in Youth Club settings and providing Young Leader training and looking at employability programmes or volunteering opportunities to help young people flourish. I also help run the Voice project, which is about capturing the voices of young people in Dorset and finding out how they would like services and activities improved in their local area.

I have been working with young people for 8 years and have recently gained my L5 Diploma in Education & Teaching. My youth work journey started at a NCS leader for the summer programmes and progressed into a Prince’s Trust Team Leader before starting work at Dorset Youth. I have a lot of experience working with young people especially those who are NEET (not in education, employment or training). I also have a BA Hons degree in Sport, Health and Fitness and several Outdoor Adventure qualifications, and where possible I like to work with young people in the great outdoors as it has so many benefits.

I have a strong passion for working in the youth industry and believe that every young person deserves the opportunities to thrive. I am enthusiastic about increasing these opportunities for young people especially in our more rural areas of Dorset.

I have worked at DYA since 2014. My role is the cleaning and maintenance of the Routes and Headquarter premises and grounds. As we hire out both the Main Hall and Seaton Room at the Headquarters I am aware of the need to keeping the building and grounds in good order, ensuring a safe and pleasant environment for everyone using our facilities. Through other similar roles I have experience and am appropriately qualified in food hygiene and health and safety

My background is in engineering and having gained an Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Portsmouth University. I have worked as a Civil Engineer and in Facilities Management, and enjoy the practical work of rebuilding a car, giving me many skills which I have been able to apply at DYA.

I enjoy working as part of such a friendly and passionate team and like the variety of jobs associated with the position.

I am a part time Youth Support Worker for The Reef Youth Club in Colehill and at Sturminster Marshall Youth Club. I really enjoy being a youth support worker, it is great spending time with the young people each week and getting involved in activities such as baking. It is a pleasure to see them grow in confidence and gain new skills whilst having fun.

I also work at Pluss as an Employment Advisor for the Dorset Supported Employment Services. I love my work in supporting people with a learning or physical disabilities, autism or mental health needs, and help to build bespoke support to help them search for, secure and retain employment.

Hi I am Mohammad, but everyone calls me Qasim.

I’m someone who’s passionate about sports—especially football and boxing—and I’m always eager to learn and take on new challenges. Currently, I’m undertaking a Customer Service apprenticeship with Dorset Council, where I have the privilege of working with Dorset Youth. This apprenticeship is an incredible opportunity for me to grow, develop new skills, and contribute to meaningful work.

I have a strong interest in areas like websites and networking, which makes me especially excited to be part of Dorset Youth. I’m looking forward to applying my enthusiasm and dedication to make a positive impact while learning as much as I can along the way.

I am a Youth Worker, primarily based at the Reef. I love the idea of giving young people a safe space to go in the evenings to socialise, gain skills and have fun. I have been coaching sports for a few years, too, so that tends to be my go-to for engaging and challenging the kids, but I also love a craft activity!

Having these opportunities is massive while you’re young. I am a huge fan of everything that happens at Dorset Youth and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

This is my first role in youth work, working at Sturminster Marshall Youth Club. I am extremely passionate about mental health, well-being, and I am excited about helping young people realise their potential, supporting them to build life skills, confidence, developing healthy relationships, self-care, empowerment and helping them to overcome challenges, while providing a safe environment, and having fun along the way!

I am a degree qualified JNC Youth Worker with more than 30 years of experience of working with young people.

In 1997 I co-founded the UK Youth Parliament working as their Head of Programmes for eight years and continue to be passionate about working with young people to give them a voice that leads to change both locally and nationally.

More recently I have worked to provide targeted support to young people and families, whilst volunteering my time to establish a more traditional youth work setting running a local youth club providing a universal offer and open access opportunities to young people.

I am excited to be working with Dorset Youth as their Development Team Lead and am looking forward to supporting the growth of the organisation in order to benefit the lives of young people across Dorset.

I recently relocated to Dorset from Hertfordshire, drawn by its beauty and the fact that much of my family has also made the move here in recent years. Dorset has always held a special place in my heart, as I grew up visiting family here and have countless fond memories of its stunning landscapes. It’s truly a wonderful place to call home!

In the summer of 2024, I completed my A-levels in Psychology and Sociology, along with a BTEC in Travel and Tourism. Instead of pursuing university, I chose to dive straight into the world of work, eager to gain hands-on experience and make a meaningful impact.

My current role involves collaborating with local organisations to support and guide young people, helping them actively engage in community initiatives. I am passionate about empowering young people, offering them opportunities to develop skills, build confidence, and make positive contributions to their communities.

Photography is one of my greatest passions, with a focus on sports and concert photography. This passion led me to an incredible experience working with Saracens Rugby—a dream come true as a dedicated fan! I also had the privilege of photographing some amazing artists at Reading Festival in August 2024, an unforgettable highlight of my journey so far.

I’ve been working with young people since I was 16, starting as a coach for my netball club. Seeing players grow in confidence and skill has been so rewarding and inspired me to pursue a career supporting young people. Netball remains a big part of my life—I play as GK or GD and love the teamwork and energy of the game.

Dance has also been a lifelong passion. I’ve been dancing since I was two years old, exploring various styles over the years, but ballet is my favourite. I love the discipline and challenge of dancing en pointe.

Music is another constant in my life—you’ll rarely find me without my headphones on, listening to my eclectic mix of favourites, including Harry Styles, Fontaines DC, Wunderhorse, Sam Fender, The 1975, and many more. Music and creativity fuel my everyday life and keep me inspired.

I am Dorset Youth’s new Social Media and Communications Officer. Among other things, I will be curating Dorset Youth’s online image and forming content for DYA’s communication channels.

I was born in Bournemouth and grew up in Wimborne, where I live now. In 2020, I lived in Brighton where I completed a Film and Screen Studies degree. I loved living by the sea, which made the transition back to Dorset much easier. I love Dorset and the amazing scenery it has to offer, so being able to work for a local charity and celebrate our space is a dream come true.

In the year after graduating, I moved to London where I entered the charity sector. I spent my time managing a Greenwich charity’s social media whilst working as a teaching assistant.

Since then, I have furthered my charity experience; I have volunteered as a visual content creator with Age UK and a copywriter for the nationwide community giving charity A Good Thing.

I love using my creative skills and imagination for worthy causes, and I am excited to put these skills to use for the betterment of young people in Dorset.