Company No. 3240655
Reg Charity No. 1057949
Dedication to young people
OVER the last four years,
Heather Jenkin has helped
many young people turn
their lives around.
So, feeling she deserved a
special thank you,
Heather’s colleagues at the
Youth Enquiry Service centre
in Exeter decided to
nominate her for theEcho’s
Bouquet of the Week.
As well as helping youngsterswho
drop into the centre,
Heather, 29, works on
the Risk and Behaviour
Project with 10 local at-risk
teenagers aged between 13
and 17.
Youngsters on the project
have a range of issues to
cope with, which can include
the risk of under-age
pregnancy and drug and
alcohol problems.
Heather, from Crediton,
talks to youngsters about
themselves and their interests
and organises activities
such as art, horse riding,
swimmingand going to
the gym.
After this, the youngsters
work on their confidence
and self-esteem through
play therapy, using materials
such as clay, musical
instruments and art work.
With Heather’s help,
some of the young people
produced a DVD about
their experiences, which
won a Devon Young
Achievers Award in June.
It was Heather’s work on
the DVD that prompted
Karen Provins, manager of
YES, to nominate her for
Heather Jenkin was nominated for Bouquet of the Week by her colleagues at the Youth Enquiry Service
GARETH WILLIAMS EE170708_GW03_01
much work into it and gave
up a lot of her time. She
organised and helped the
production of the DVD
about the young people’s
journeys and what they
have been going through.
She put so much passion
into it, we just thought she
deserved the award.”
When the Echo showed
up with the bouquet,
Heather was called into the
room on the pretence that a
young person had just
dropped in to see her.
BY KATY MANNING
Bouquet of the Week
In association with Poppy’s Flowers
and Gifts, Topsham Road, Exeter
So she was taken aback
to be presented with the
beautiful bunch of blooms
in front of staff and young
people at the centre.
She said: “It feels brilliant.
I feel very touched by
it.”
Former social worker
Heather decided to join the
youth service so she could
have an impact on young
people’s lives. She said: “I
love the fact I can watch
them develop. They have
had some difficult times
and it is wonderful to be
able to give them the time
to talk through those issues,
and work hard to
move them forward. I see
some huge success stories
and it’s very satisfying.”
Allana Parr, 16, who
watched Heather receive
the bouquet, said: “She’s
amazing. She’s likeWonder
Woman. She’s helped me
out a lot and I am very
grateful.”
Jess Gowing, 17, said:
“She’s really sweet and I
think she should have a lot
given back to her.”
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13 2008
