04/07/23

Nevaeh Nash, Corporate Trainee Youth Worker from Cardiff Youth Services, has won the prestigious BBC Young Reporter Competition 2023 for her entry ‘My Journey to becoming a youth worker'.

Crowned as one of the regional winners for Wales,Nevaeh made a documentary about her personal experience of attending the city's Youth Service provision following the sudden death of her brother when she was 13 years old.Nevaeh had struggled to attend school and deal with the grief and anxiety, until she engaged with Cardiff Youth Service's and found youth workers and other young people that she could relate who were also facing similar struggles.

With the help of a Youth MentorNevaeh began to slowly get her life back on track, return to school, connect with other young people. She felt that finally she was understood and fell in love with youth work, so decided to become a volunteer at Gabalfa Youth Centre.

Nevaeh'sdocumentary was made with the help and support of her Youth Mentor and the Digital Team to make people aware of the struggles of being a teenager, dealing with grief, anxiety and depression.

Again, supported and encouraged by youth workers, she made a second film and also entered into the BBC Young Reporter Competition 2023, where she has been chosen as a winner. The annual opportunity gives 11 to 18-year-olds across the UK the chance to produce their own stories about issues relevant to them and their lives with BBC programme-makers, producers and journalists.Nevaeh will now work with BBC Wales over the coming weeks and months to develop and record her story, for broadcast on the BBC.

Nevaeh said: "I didn't think my film would go as far as it did. If I can help one person, that's my job done! I love being able to relate to young people, to help them and give them that confidence I never had, but through Cardiff youth Service I got my confidence."

Cabinet Member for Tackling Poverty, Equality and Supporting Young People, Cllr Peter Bradbury said: "This is a fantastic achievement and a positive example of how youth work can change a young persons life."

Well done Nevaeh! We look forward to seeing your powerful story broadcast on the BBC!

You can watch heroriginal documentary here

Watch thesecond documentary here

Find out more aboutCardiff Youth Service hereor follow them on socials: @CardiffYouthService and @YouthCardiff