Mark Withers, boys and young men's development worker, Somerset County Council

- What were your ambitions when you were young?

I didn't do that well at school and was excluded. At 15 I did an apprenticeship as a goldsmith, working with my dad.

- Did you pursue that career?

I was a goldsmith for 20 years. I moved to Somerset and, while I was producing lovely objects, it started to feel meaningless. I was looking to make a difference to people. I had four daughters and started helping out at their swimming club - one of the other dads was a senior youth worker and he encouraged me to get involved. So in 2002 I started doing three hours a week with the schools team, teaching communication and life skills. I was incredibly nervous but soon got into the swing of it.

- And now you specialise in working with boys and young men?

I started to run eight-week programmes looking at masculinity, violence, self-esteem and so on. I took on more hours, a bit of detached work and worked at a youth centre in Wellington. I got the chance to study for a diploma in youth work and enjoyed linking what I did to theory. But studying was a struggle.

- Then a full-time job came along?

I wasn't sure about becoming a full-time youth worker, but my wife said go for it.

- And you won a Brook Award for your work?

I think the judges admired the nurturing side of the work I do - it's not just "cocks and condoms".