Eve studied BA (Hons) Education Studies at Leeds Beckett, graduating in 2017, before working in a SEN school for five years. In 2022 she decided to return to embark on a postgraduate degree, MA Youth Work and Community Development, graduating in 2023.

Here, Eve shares her thoughts about the courses, what she most enjoyed and how they got her to where she is now.

Courses: BA (Hons) Education Studies and MA Youth Work and Community Development

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you've been doing since you graduated?

I've always had an interest in working with young people. Prior to starting university, I volunteered within a primary school in the UK and spent some time volunteering at a school in Tanzania.

These experiences taught me that I loved working with young people, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be a teacher. Therefore, Education Studies seemed to encompass the aspects of education that I enjoyed.

Since graduating in 2017, I began working in a specialist SEN school. After completing my second year placement there, I thought it would be a good opportunity to develop my professional practice in this area.

Starting as a tutor, I progressed through a number of roles over five years. I worked as a wellbeing tutor, developed and managed a project for 'hard to reach' young people, and led the wellbeing provision for Key Stage 4 students.

After five years, I decided I wanted to use my experience within the community sector. This led to my decision to enrol on the MA Youth Work and Community Development course, which gave me the opportunity to work within the third sector and gain a professional youth work qualification.

Although my role now is very different, I've been able to use the skills I gained in previous roles to support the young people I currently work with.

I began working as a Youth Worker for Barca in October 2022 as this aligned with my interests and was also able to fulfil my placement requirements. I graduated from my postgraduate course in July 2023 before taking a career break to travel. I've since returned to work at Barca in January this year.

Can you tell us about your current role and what an average day is like for you?

I'm a Children and Young Persons Practitioner at Barca, a community based charity that delivers projects for adults, children, young people and families in Leeds, supporting them and connecting them with the services they need.

There's no such thing as an average day. I can be delivering targeted group work within a school or 1-2-1 mentoring sessions, leading trips and activity days, delivering assemblies, working with families, social workers and youth justice workers. The role is so varied, which is something I enjoy as it keeps it interesting.

Currently I'm working on the Schools Mentoring Project, which is working with young people who are at risk of criminal exploitation and/or engaging in anti-social behaviour. I usually spend three days working within the school delivering group work and 1-2-1 sessions. The other two days I work within the community or in other schools delivering assemblies.

Were there any opportunities or modules that you studied which have specifically impacted you and helped you get to where you are?

Placements in both of my degrees have been extremely valuable and have afforded me the opportunities to network and develop my professional practice. Without this I wouldn't have gained the skills to secure my first role when I graduated, which was ultimately the role that has shaped my career.

The Social Perspectives module on the Education Studies course is one that has always stuck with me. Challenging social inequalities is at the core of what I do in removing barriers for young people to access opportunities.

Finally, there were a number of modules that had an assessed presentation element. Although I hated this at the time it is one of the most valuable skills I have used within my career: from delivering training, assemblies to hundreds of children, delivering group sessions, interviewing for jobs, leading multi-agency meetings. I use this skill all the time and I'm so grateful for that opportunity to develop my confidence in this area during the course.

What have been the highlights and the challenges of your career so far?

I have so many highlights. I've loved all the work that I've done and have been incredibly lucky to work in the organisations I have.

Working in the same school for five years I was able to see the immense progress of young people I had worked with over those five years. There are lots of 'big' highlights but it's the small things that you have the most pride for.

However, this isn't to say that it has been without its challenges. Working in education can be really hard and so many services for young people are so stretched, so you definitely need to be resilient.

How has studying your course at Leeds Beckett University enhanced your career prospects and influenced your career?

I already had an interest in working with young people, but it helped me develop my skills, knowledge and experience to follow my own interests.

Through the professional practice modules I was able to really explore the roles that I wasn't even aware existed when I started university. This influenced my career progression as I knew the direction I wanted my career to take.

Was your course well connected to industry?

The course has great links with organisations that I have gone on to work for in both of my degrees. Without this, I wouldn't have had the opportunities to gain the professional experience that has shaped my career.

What drew you to study at Leeds Beckett initially? Why did you want to study this course?

I wanted to study the course because I knew I wanted to work in education, but I wasn't sure what role. The course allowed me to explore education with a wider perspective and discover where my areas of interest were without committing to a specific role.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying this course?

Just go into with an open mind. It might lead you down a path you didn't know existed.

What does the future hold for you?

I've always been really open to opportunities which might take me in a different direction so who knows. I'd like to have more opportunities to deliver training and be able to make a positive impact on a structural level.