Exciting times for our Re-Fresh Young People’s Support Group!
We have recruited a new youth worker to help us build on, and expand, the great work we have been doing supporting young people affected by cancer or bereavement across north Lancs and south Cumbria.
Bex Goslin has joined our team in South Lakeland and will be working to expand our Kendal group and recruit young people for our new group based in Barrow-in-Furness. She has hit the ground running, helping organise the Re-Fresh half-term activities which included boating on Dewentwater and the Escape Rooms at Bowness.
Bex is a qualified mental health nurse and adolescent therapist who spent the last seven years with the NHS working with young people experiencing mental health issues. She is also a former Prince’s Trust Team Leader and her role involved helping young people develop skills, build self-confidence, connect with their peers and complete community projects.
Bex said: “Working with young people brings me so much joy – they are the most fun, inspiring and creative people. Every young person is unique, and I love learning about their perspectives on life, the world and everything. Every day is a learning opportunity for me too! It’s so rewarding and humbling being alongside young people on their journeys, especially in the most challenging times.
“I am enjoying the role so much! I have been made to feel so welcome by the team and I and joined just in time for the half-term activities so it has been a great start!
“I am excited to grow the Kendal Peer Support Group and setting up a brand new one in Barrow. I can’t wait to meet and support young people in a space where they feel safe, empowered and free to be themselves. I love being creative and I am always up for an adventure, I am very excited about the opportunities to do outdoor activities, trips and residentials.”
Re=Fresh is open to young people aged 12-17 who have been affected by bereavement or have family/friends who have been diagnosed with cancer.
They meet weekly at Lancaster and Kendal and provides a fun environment for young people to make friends and offer support to others in similar circumstances. The groups take part activities including arts and crafts, woodwork, bushcraft, and baking and there is also a full school holiday programme of trips including outward bound weekends and visits to the cinema, theatre and Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Director of Client Services Simon Rothwell said: “We are delighted to Bex’s extensive experience and skills to our Re-Fresh groups. The scope of the group has grown hugely since its inception in 2018 with one youth worker in Lancaster and we now have four dedicated members of staff covering the whole of our Morecambe Bay footprint. We are very excited to take our work with young people across The Bay to the next level and reach even more young people in need of the support services we provide.”
Click here to read more about Re-Fresh
Our children and young people's services are supported by Global's Make Some Noise BBC Children in Need and The St James's Place Charitable Foundation