2020.. the year that

This year, this has been particularly true, hasn’t it?  (but its been the same for virtually everyone too) 

Its been a strange old year, some have unprecedentally used the word unprecedented in many unprecedented ways. The youth and community work fraternity has been hit, affected by it all, like everyone. And so, I felt that it was time to tip our collective hats to the plights of doing youthwork in 2020, with a list of things that signify that you’re a youthworker.

1. You’re on Mute

2. You’re still on Mute

3. (thought only) I preferred when you were still on Mute

4. Whats detached youthwork again?

5. Have we delivered the food parcels?

6. I can see that you’re not really focussed on this zoom…

7. If we’re in tier 2 and we put craft materials on the table outside the community hall front door, can young people talk to us if they are in a group of 4 and not wearing masks, what happens if their friend joins in, and at that time a member of the public interrupts- is this a group off 7?

8. Have you used sanitiser?

9. Bloody Covid

10. The NYA said we cant open the youth club

11. The NYA said we can open the youth club because we’re an essential service

12. Now that we can open the youth club, how will we decide which 6 young people we can let in at a time, and can we enforce sanitiser?

13. No you cant come into the youth club without a mask on

14. Are you in a bubble?

15. We need to consult the new guidelines, and then do it again next week.

16. ‘STAY TWO METRES AWAY!’

17. no you cant hug me, or anyone

18. The usual tuck shop items are behind the PPE, and you can have a snickers bar if I serve you with gloves on. 

19. In a minute we’ll be going into break out rooms

20. Our youth group talk will be on facebook live, please show your love and share it

21. How the bloody hell are we going to do youth work during lockdown? (said in March..) (Resources here

22. There really was no preparation for doing youthwork during a pandemic at college. 

23. Anyone got a spare mask? 

24. Shall we do a bit of trying to see the positives in all this?  

25. Yet another webinar to go to. 

26. How do we attract and keep young people on digital youth provision? 

27. Its the rules, we cant have the youth club because we cant enforce a one way system. 

28. No you cant avoid leading the youth club because of zoom fatigue. 

29. Anyone got a decent risk assessment for all this? 

30. How do we get funding for youth clubs on zoom?

31. Why am I so tired? 

32. Everything is just a mess, and no I don’t know when youth cub will be back on. Maybe ask Boris. 

33. When shall we do any planning this year? 

34. So.. 2021 folks.. any ideas? Nope.. thought not. 

35. It’s unprecedented. (had to get this one in here) 

So, 35 things that you’ve said or done in the last 10 months that you probably have never said or done before as a youth and community worker

How many have you said?

And what might you add below:

This will be my last piece this year, so, thank you for reading, sharing and enjoying my writing this year, I hope you get some rest over the next few weeks, have a Happy Christmas and I look forward to writing more content in 2021, Thank you