Eikon Youth Worker

My name is Kate Palmer, I am the Eikon Youth Support Practitioner based at Kings and I work Monday – Thursday 8.30 – 3pm

Kings College work in partnership with The Eikon Charity who support children and young people to overcome difficulties, become resilient and develop into confident young people who contribute positively to their communities.

One area of the work that Eikon do with young people is placing a Youth Support Practitioner directly in schools to help improve young people’s physical and emotional wellbeing and mental health. Eikon work in partnership with schools, communities, health & social care and other organisations, because we believe that working together works.

What is a Youth Support Practitioner?

I am  a qualified Youth Worker based at Kings College and is embedded within the school community, helping to identify those that need extra support with their wellbeing.

Referrals can be made to me via Pastoral leads and can be enrolled in one or more of the following;

  • One-to-one mentoring sessions
  • Group work
  • Support groups

 

I am one of the many people that students can turn to when they are facing challenges. Our support aims to help teach new strategies and coping mechanisms with a number of different issues, examples of these might include;

  • Improving Emotional and Physical wellbeing
  • Self Esteem and Confidence
  • Feelings and Emotions
  • Relationships
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Friendship Issues
  • Family Issues
  • Young Carers
  • Organisation at school and putting routines in place
  • Communication and social skills

 

How does a Youth Support Practitioner work?

Children are referred from within the school and can attend 1:1 sessions, where a young person meets over a number of weeks and talks through areas that they need some support, getting things off their chest and finding ways in which to address these. Together with the Youth Support Practitioner, strategies can be explored, and goals can be worked towards with an aim of improving the wellbeing of the Young Person. During 1:1 sessions, whilst talking to the Youth Support Practitioner, different activities are often added in such as art and crafts, games etc to help the Young Person to feel at ease.

In addition to 1:1 support, lunch clubs are also run, a safe place for students to be during social times, making new friends and having an adult to talk to. During the week, lunch groups for LGBTQIA+, Young Carers and drop in sessions for all students take place.

Various small group work also takes place over the year which focus on social skills, coping strategies, support networks, friendships and many other areas.