Sometimes it’s good to fail!
For over a year we’ve been challenging every youth service audience we get in front about the fact there was not one statutory youth worker in the UK blogging. We knew if just one started more would follow leading to the sharing of good practice, open dialogue and reflective practice plus a more transparent face for a sector which usually doesn't get the credit it deserves.
We also posted a few times about it:
We then decided to do something about it and bought the oneyouthworkbloggercampaign.com domain and was ready to launch (April 2008)—we were busy putting together a short inspiring and provocative video complimented by a host of links, examples and "how-tos" (plus we were going to throw in a half price training sweetener for the first to take up the challenge).
Little did we know a previous speaking gig had already done the job…
Hilary Mason is Senior Manager for West Sussex Youth Service AND the first ever uk-based statutory youth worker blogging (podcast to come).
Take a minute to think about that…
Whatever sector or industry you are in imagine being the first person to be blogging…
You can hear all about Hilarys journey and experiences of becoming the first youth worker to blog in the UK by listening to our podcast with her.
Even though we hadn’t launched the campaign we put our money where our mouth is and delivered our half-price youth professionals training for the West Sussex Youth Service
A few days behind Hilary is Dave Petrie, Youth Worker for Essex County Youth Services started blogging and then came the third from Oldham Youth Service after we spoke at their staff conference.
NB: This news did not get featured anywhere in the mainstream media…