After receiving a funding application from the wonderful, inspirational, Rhyl-based charity, Brighter Futures, led by Chief Executive, Shane Owen and his fantastic team, last year, we went along to visit them, to see what they were doing for ourselves. So impressed by this award-winning charity’s multi-generational support provision, their forward-thinking ambitions, and sustainable approach to everything they do, we wanted to go beyond this charity’s ask to support them. So, following Shane’s own story, just like the support he received from The Prince’s Trust to enable him to achieve his ambition to support young people, we wanted to not only provide support to expand existing, experienced Youth Worker hours, to improve the quality of support for the children and youth groups they run, but to offer the chance for another Rhyl young person to achieve their ambition of becoming a Youth Worker.

This week we were delighted to go back to Brighter Futures to see Shane, and meet the young person who, following a recruitment process involving not only Brighter Futures staff, but the young people they support, was offered the position of Trainee Youth Worker, to work alongside the existing, experienced Youth Worker.

Ellie has had an interest in supporting people in her local area for some time. She has had some experience with young people undertaking activities alongside North Wales Police, and also as a result of her own passion and experience playing football for local and regional teams, so when this opportunity came up with Brighter Futures, she wasted no time in applying.  

“The support from The Neumark Foundation has enabled us to employ Ellie as a trainee youth worker. This is an exciting opportunity for us, as Ellie is a young person who has grown up in Rhyl, and has a good understand of our community. We hope this will help us shape our activities and services, while providing new energy and perspectives to feed into our future plans for succession and sustainability. It is also very exciting for us to demonstrate to local young people that opportunities can and do arise for local young people to learn and progress into employment.”

Shane Owen – CEO at Brighter Futures

“I am really proud to have been offered this opportunity, and I am really enjoying the job so far. Growing up in Rhyl, I experienced challenges and difficulties myself, and struggled without support. It is fantastic to be able to support other young people to help them create better lives for themselves. I really look forward to developing my skills and experience with the hope that I can make a difference.”

Ellie – Trainee Youth Worker at Brighter Futures

“At the Neumark Foundation, nothing is ever set in stone for us, when we see an opportunity that will effectively make a positive difference for children and young people, we will do everything we can to support, sometimes going over and above expectations and specific asks. It’s such a pleasure to meet Ellie, I know that she is really keen to make the most of this opportunity, and it will make such a difference for the young people she is supporting. Brighter Futures truly is inspiring, and it is a privilege to be able to support them in their development.”

Rebecca Neumark – CEO of The Neumark Foundation