Former Students Take Key Roles at Youth Charity

Two ex-journalism students become trustees at The Youth Association

Two former journalism students from Leeds City College have recently been appointed as trustees of The Youth Association, a well-established youth charity based in Wakefield. Emma Burke and India Chahal first became involved with the organisation through a college project in 2022-2023 and have since taken on significant responsibilities within the charity.

From College Project to Trustee Roles

Emma and India participated in the Peer Research project held at the college’s Quarry Hill campus. This initiative provided training in interview techniques, research methods, and scriptwriting, culminating in a weekly podcast featuring interviews with young people. The project was a collaboration between The Youth Association and the college’s Student Life enrichment team.

The students worked together to produce a short film showcasing creative opportunities for young people in Leeds. This film was later presented at the Royal Armouries Museum. Both Emma and India described the experience as inspiring and valuable in developing skills beyond academic learning.

Commitment to Youth Opportunities

Following the project, Emma and India applied to become Young Trustees of The Youth Association, successfully securing the roles through a voting process. Emma highlighted the importance of the charity’s support in enabling young people to lead projects and develop skills such as confidence, responsibility, and social interaction.

Activities and Impact

• Emma emphasised how the project helped with CV building and university applications.
• India has taken an active role, including representing the charity internationally in the Netherlands.
• She has also participated in staff interview panels and contributed to strategic discussions within the organisation.

About The Youth Association

Established in 1904, The Youth Association describes itself as ‘Yorkshire’s youth work charity’. It focuses on providing life skills development and recreational activities for young people across the region.

Further Opportunities and Community Engagement

Lindsey Topham-Whitton, the college’s Student Voice and Social Action Lead, noted the value of the Peer Research project and praised Emma and India’s ongoing involvement with the charity. She encouraged other students to engage with The Youth Association’s initiatives, including the ‘Lads at the Back’ community research programme. This project seeks to understand and address why young men aged 16-23 in Leeds and Wakefield are more likely to disengage from education.

For more information about The Youth Association and its work, visit https://youth-association.org/.