Frank's story - A Peer educator
The peer educator role is part of the workforce development plan within our larger Daisi musical inclusion project, which is being funded by Youth Music. Its aim is to embed inclusive ways of working throughout music education and play, by providing real opportunities to support young people's progression along a career pathway. Connecting them through music making and giving them the chance to express themselves and their voice.
Daisi has been working with Devon Youth Service, Space* (DYS Space) to offer two young people aged 18-21 each year, the opportunity to develop their music leadership skills. They work alongside a team to help design and deliver music-based workshops and activities as part of a regular youth group session. This is a key and integral part of our workforce development programme, providing progression routes for local young people, working in a variety of styles and genres.
The Hive youth club is run by DYS Space and is based in Exmouth, a rural seaside town in East Devon. Exmouth is identified as being amongst 40% of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country. - Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
Today, rural areas and isolated post-industrial towns have the greatest need for extra investment, collaboration and focus on disadvantaged young people’s outcomes.
Findings from The State of the Nation 2017: Social Mobility in Great Britain
Frank Hebson aged 18, has just completed his year of being a peer educator at The Hive. He started attending the youth club as participant when he was 12 years old and within a year he started to volunteer. He told us why he wanted to join the peer educator programme: "I thought that it would be a good opportunity to help advance my skills and learn new things. I've always been into music all my life, I started playing guitar when I was around 5. I found it has always been a really good way to express myself.'
Frank described what he enjoyed most about being a peer educator: "Getting to be involved and helping young people reach their potential and when young people know you care and are there to support them."
The role improves the skill set and confidence of the young people working as peer leaders, but it also provides a platform where they can comfortably and organically suggest and influence the sessions.
'It's helped me become more confident to challenge behaviour and I've learnt how to adapt my teaching styles to suit different types of young people.'
Frank Hebson, Daisi Peer Educator
Another aspect of being of a peer educator is to listen to the voices and opinions of the participants and then feedback to the youth leaders and settings staff at the Hive to ensure that that the programmes are best suited to the young people's needs and wants. We asked Frank if he would recommend the peer educator role to other young people and he said "100% definitely"
If you want to find out more how the peer educator programme and how it works you can contact us by emailing vicci@daisi.org.uk
