Mark Withers, boys and young men's development worker, Somerset County Council
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Mark Withers started out as a goldsmith but ended up as a youth worker.
![Mark Withers](/media/136013/1a9c28aa953a56d1b50757b88a6c2cf2jpg-350x250.jpg?&width=780&quality=60)
- 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".