Frome youth worker needs your votes!

FROME Youth Club’s lead youth worker, Chiara Docherty, is in the running for a YMCA ‘Youth Matters’ award. 

The youth worker has been nominated for the Young Worker of the Year 2021 award, and has progressed to the semi-finals – and she needs your votes to get to the final. 

“Finding out I was nominated by those I proudly work for, was really heart-warming!” said Chiara. “I am absolutely honoured to be nominated and I am really proud of the work that we all do.” 

Chiara became a paid member of staff, as a youth worker at Frome youth club at the age of 19 – after receiving support for herself from the age of 16. Since then, Chiara has become; area team leader in Mendip at the age of 24, overseeing youth clubs; she has helped set up youth clubs across Somerset, worked with young people setting up social action projects in three different communities; supported hundreds of young people and is a vital member of the staff team at YMCA Brunel Group. 

Her nomination said, “Chiara is passionate about young people, and she knows from her own experience there is always a way to achieve that breakthrough with young people. Chiara has always worked above and beyond to support young people.  

“She worked hard supporting young people through the pandemic, providing Covid-19 advice, mentoring, detached work, helping them through their own challenges. Now, Chiara runs four youth clubs, including Mendip young carers and is also working directly with young people at risk of county lines and child sexual exploitation. She is one in a million.” 

Public voting is now open for the awards and will close on Friday 13th August. To vote, visit the website: www.ymca.org.uk/youth-matters-awards-vote