Youth Workers

Meet the Youth Workers

All of the youth workers are appropriately trained and competent using NYA Professional and National Occupational Standards for Youth Work as a guide and have current enhanced DBS certificates. The youth workers take part in regular ongoing professional development.

Paula Nicol

I have worked for Westgate Youth Project since 2012 and became the youth work manager in 2013. I have been a youth worker since 2001.

In 2017 we changed the focus of the project from a generic provision to a targeted provision for young people with hidden disabilities. I have an autistic daughter and many of the young people that we worked with in a generic setting had hidden disabilities.

I manage the team of paid and voluntary youth workers and take care of the day to day running of the project.

We are dedicated to creating a safe space for young people to become part of a community and develop a sense of belonging, while making new friends and taking part in fun educational activities.

Jake Bartlett

Jake went to a youth club when he was 12 and never wanted to leave! He became a young leader, then a volunteer and now works for the project as a part time youth worker.

Jake likes to run cooking and art activities where he can encourage the young people to explore their creativity and try new things, while learning new skills.

Helen Andrews

Helen has worked for the project since 2015, first as a volunteer and then as a paid youth worker.

Her favourite part of working with young people is learning from them and being inspired to deliver activities that really interest them. Helen really enjoys helping young people to solve any issues that they may have or lending an ear to just listen if that is what they need.

Jordan Lewis

Jordan has worked for the project since 2013 because he wanted to give something back to the project that he once attended as a young person. Jordan is our sports worker and can be found outside running all sorts of sports activities. During his time working for the project, Jordan has gained his football coaching badges and spent the summer of 2017 working at a summer camp in America. Jordan loves working as a youth worker and finds it rewarding being able to make a difference to the young people that he works with.

Tilly Harris

Tilly first came along to the project as a young person in 2017. When the project reopened after lockdown in 2021, Tilly became a volunteer youth worker. She is very creative and helps the young people to explore their creativity during both arts and crafts sessions and cooking activities.

Tilly is a Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust govenor for Thanet.

James Swart

James joined the project as a volunteer in 2021. He wanted to pursue his passion of working with young people and helping them to reach their full potential in a fun, safe environment.

James helps lead and support a variety of outdoor activities and sports.

Claire Lewis

Claire has recently joined the team as a youth work volunteer. She used to work at the Royal School for deaf children in Margate and loved her job there. Now Claire’s children have grown up a bit she wants to work with young people again, sharing her skills and learning new ones. Claire has a daughter with hidden disabilities who attends The Umbrella Club. Claire is arty and creative and spends her time supporting young people to learn new skills serving in the tuck shop.

Holly Chapman

“Holly has recently joined the project as a volunteer, who first came to the youth club in January 2024 for an art outreach workshop, and enjoyed it so much she wanted to come back!

Her interests are mostly art focused, but she loves to be outside and is interested in different types of sports, and loves to get everyone involved in team building activities! She is still adjusting to the role and is interested to see what the young people would like to do within the club!”