UCLan degree apprentice Maryam comes full circle after volunteering with UCLan’s Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership leads her to pursue youth worker dream
A youth worker from Nelson has embarked on a degree apprenticeship at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) after being inspired by her volunteering experiences whilst still at school.
Maryam Ali is studying for a Degree Apprenticeship in Youth Work and Community Practice at UCLan through national youth charity Onside Network of Youth Zones. Currently based at Chorley Youth Zone, Maryam will continue her three-year degree apprenticeship at Preston Youth Zone when it opens.
The 23-year-old already has a vast amount of experience under her belt thanks to the volunteering she did whilst a pupil at Marsden Heights Community College.
"Having this opportunity in high school empowered me to talk about issues affecting young people in my community."
— Youth worker Degree Apprentices Maryam Ali
The school’s Positive Voices project, which is led by Mashuq (Mash) Hussain OBE and works closely with UCLan’s Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership (CVCL) to drive positive change within the school and local area, opened Maryam’s eyes to youth work.
Through Positive Voices she took part and led on a variety of initiatives, including a healthy eating campaign, a charity walk and representing Nelson at a conference about grooming and radicalisation. She realised her calling in life was to make a difference to people’s lives.
Maryam said: “Having this opportunity in high school empowered me to talk about issues affecting young people in my community. It gave us a voice to discuss how poverty affects education and social mobility and, importantly, what needs to change to address it.”
"I didn’t realise at the time how big an impact I was making and it’s only now when I look back I realise how much I’ve achieved."
— Youth worker Degree Apprentices Maryam Ali
This dedication led to Maryam being featured in the book, You Can Change the World!: Everyday Teen Heroes Making a Difference Everywhere, by Margaret Rooke, which shares 50 stories of inspirational teenagers, when she was only 16.
“I didn’t realise at the time how big an impact I was making and it’s only now when I look back I realise how much I’ve achieved” Maryam said.
Mash Hussain from Positive Voices said: “From the time Maryam started to come into the Youthworks at Marsden Heights I knew this girl would go far. A beaming smile, inquisitive mind and a personality to lead, and that was when she was only 13-years-old.
"Not only did Positives Voices benefit Maryam, but the Positive Voices concept benefited from her input."
— Mash Hussain from Positive Voices
“Not only did Positives Voices benefit Maryam, but the Positive Voices concept benefited from her input. We are in the 12th year of Positive Voices and Maryam left a legacy in the developments she made.”
Maryam attended Nelson College after high school and initially began a degree in psychology before Covid hit and she reconsidered her options. She worked at Sainsbury’s in Burnley during the pandemic and although she enjoyed working with the public, she realised her passions lie in making a positive difference to people’s lives.
She said: “I never actually thought of myself as a youth worker but Mash always saw that in me. When I saw the degree apprenticeship with Onside and UCLan I realised my passion could become my career.
"Maryam has all the skills to make a positive impact as a youth worker and we’re proud to play a part in her journey,"
— Community practice senior lecturer Jenny Lamb
“I’m at the beginning of my degree apprenticeship but already feel like I’m living my dream. I’m building a career, gaining practical experience and it’s fully funded."
Community practice senior lecturer Jenny Lamb commented: “We first met Maryam at the beginning of her volunteering days when she was still at school and her interest in youth work was just beginning.
“It’s fantastic to see her come full circle and return to UCLan as a degree apprentice. Maryam has all the skills to make a positive impact as a youth worker and we’re proud to play a part in her journey.”
Maryam added: “It feels fitting that I’m now studying at UCLan Burnley to become a youth worker when my first experiences with the profession came from volunteering with Positive Voices and UCLan CVCL.
“I’d always recommend volunteering to anyone as you have no idea how much your actions can affect someone’s life. As a youth worker you’re never taking away but always giving back.”
