A day in the busy life of Alison Holdsworth

She has worked in the community/voluntary sector for 17 years and has experience in the field of youth work, community development and community safety.

Alison holds a diploma in counselling and is presently studying a BSc Honours Degree in communication with counselling at Jordanstown University.

She is also a trained facilitator in drug and alcohol education and is currently employed as the Youth Training Officer to deliver Resurgam’s Empowering Young People Programme, which is being funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Throughout her career she has managed numerous funded projects and has developed a good understanding of governance, finances and strategic planning.

I leave my three children off to school and normally arrive at my office at Laganview Enterprise Centre in the Old Warren Estate for 8.45am. I will check emails and then get stuck into my work.

I wear many hats within Resurgam but my main role as Youth Training Officer is to coordinate the Empowering Youth project, which is a 12 week personal development and employability programme for young people aged 14-20 years.

At present we are accepting referrals for the programme so my first duty would be to make initial contact with the parents of the young people who will be attending the September term programme.

The Empowering Youth project helps and supports young people to identify future educational and employment goals and mentors them through the process.

My other responsibility is to lead up Resurgam’s ‘invest in people’ health programme.

I work 9am-5pm most days. In the evenings I make it a priority to spend time with my family but occasionally through my third role I find myself out at community events or meeting as manager of the Lisburn SAFE project.

The Lisburn SAFE project is a community initiative that works in partnership with the statutory organisations to address low level crime and disturbances within the areas of Hillhall, Old Warren, Low Road and the Maze.

With over 60 volunteers at present it is my role to meet with them on a monthly basis, providing group supervision and checking in to see how the project is going and making sure that all areas of training are being met.

I really appreciate my role within the community of Lisburn.