Stories like Owen’s remind us why youth work matters.
At Future Youth Zone, we see young people walk through our doors every day carrying different hopes, challenges, and possibilities. Youth work is about creating the space where those possibilities can grow. Owen’s journey is one of those stories that captures exactly what that growth can look like.
Owen first joined Future Youth Zone as a member, like so many young people who come looking for somewhere to belong, to try new things, and to spend time with friends. Over the years, we watched him develop confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of responsibility to the community around him. Today, seeing Owen step into the role of Associate Trustee is something that makes everyone at Future incredibly proud. It’s a powerful example of the full circle that youth work can create, from young person to leader helping shape the future of the organisation that helped shape him.
During his time as a member, Owen was a familiar face around the youth zone. Whether it was on the football pitch, in conversations with youth workers, or getting involved in opportunities beyond the building, he consistently showed the kind of enthusiasm and commitment that makes youth work so rewarding.
One particularly memorable chapter of Owen’s journey was when he captained the Future football team. Leadership in youth spaces often begins in moments like these, bringing people together, encouraging teammates, and learning how to take responsibility for others as well as yourself. Owen embraced that role and quickly became someone other members looked up to.
His voice also reached beyond the youth zone when he took part in a Sunday Times interview about Future. Speaking publicly about his experiences took confidence and honesty, and it helped shine a light on the importance of youth spaces and the opportunities they provide.
However, one moment that has always stayed with many of our youth workers happened during a heated disagreement between two young people. Situations like that can escalate quickly, but Owen stepped in calmly and acted as a mediator between them. He helped both sides talk through the issue and reach a resolution. It was a powerful example of peer-to-peer mediation in action and a real demonstration of the skills he had developed through his time at the youth zone: communication, empathy, and leadership.
Moments like that often go unseen outside youth work, but they represent something incredibly important. Youth zones don’t just provide activities; they help young people learn how to support one another, resolve conflict, and build stronger communities.
Owen’s story is inspiring, but it is also just one of many. Every day at Future Youth Zone, and across OnSide Youth Zones around the country, young people are building confidence, discovering new interests, developing leadership skills, and finding their voices.
Seeing Owen grow from a member into an Associate Trustee shows what can happen when young people are given the opportunity, the support, and the space to thrive. His journey reflects the heart of youth work — believing in young people, investing in them, and watching them go on to make a difference not just in their own lives, but in the lives of others.
We are incredibly proud of Owen, and we know his story is only the beginning.