Jonathan Oliverio, Youth Worker

Jonathan Oliverio, Youth Worker

Having grown up in Dartmouth, Jonathan Oliverio knows first hand how life in a picture postcard tourist honeypot can be tricky for the young.

Jonathan, 31, is a youth worker based at the United Reformed Church in Brixham. His post is funded through a partnership between the URC, Methodist Church and Church of England – three Christian organisations pulling together to help the young.

“It’s a new way of thinking and working,” said Jonathan. “In the past a lot of churches have set up youth groups to try to get young people through the door and into the congregation.

“My post is not like that. Through the work that I and my colleagues do, the churches are serving the community and supporting young people – no strings attached. If they want to come to church that’s fine, but it is not our aim.”

Jonathan’s work is two-pronged. Through detached street-based work he manages a team of volunteers who go out into the streets and parks of Brixham to meet young people where they congregate. Through dialogue and regular encounters they develop projects and ideas, identifying needs by talking to the young people themselves, and liaising with the police to counter anti social behaviour.

Within the church building in the centre of Brixham, Jonathan co-ordinates a drop in service. The Place operates like an internet café, open on Monday and Friday evenings and regularly attended by more than 40 youngsters aged between 11 and 17. Karaoke and gaming systems keep everyone entertained, along with table tennis and laptops.

“It is a safe place in which young people can meet their friends – their own space. It is extremely popular.”

When Jonathan took up his post two and a half years ago, all he had was a white telephone and a gas fire. The combined churches knew they wanted a youth worker but were not sure what they wanted that youth worker to do.

“The first year was spent assessing the need, building relationships with other youth services and working out the approach. Now I have good dialogue with the young people and we are working together to make sure the young community is catered for.

“We live in a beautiful area but there are difficulties present in growing up here that might not appear obvious to everyone. There are high levels of deprivation and a lack of opportunities for jobs. This has a damaging effect. It produces a lot of free time and a lowering of self esteem and confidence. When that happens people can turn to crime, alcohol, drugs or sex as a quick fix boost to egos. There is a very high rate of teenage pregnancy here and we are involved in a big multi agency initiative to tackle that. But I know there has to be a slow and steady approach.“

Jonathan has a team of 13 volunteers and runs training courses for the  Torbay Youth Service looking at a wide range of skills and issues.

“I call it sex, drugs and rock n roll!” he said. “Youth work is about equipping young people with skills for life. There have been so many social changes, family life has altered. The community has to lend support to young people. We are part of that.”

The Brixham URC also aims to meet the spiritual needs of its young people with a club on a Tuesday evening called Step – Social Talking Eating and Prayer. But introducing young people to the church is not the focus of its youth work.

Jonathan said: “I always thought that church youth work was not for me. But I have been a qualified youth worker for seven years and I am happy to be in this role – it is unbiased and impartial which is exactly as it should be.

“Young people have their own ideas and aspirations – if I come along and try to impose my ideas, that can hinder them. Life is a learning experience but you have to work through things for yourself. All we do is help young people to learn and make choices, so that they can find their identity and place in society. We don’t want to tell anyone what to do.”

Jonathan’s work takes him to Brixham College with The Box mobile youth club – always keen to meet young people on their home turf.

And it’s a stone’s throw from his own roots in Dartmouth. Jonathan lives in Townstal, having been away and come back to his home town. His parents Christine and Giovanni Oliviero moved to Jubilee Close in Townstal when the houses were built in 1977 to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubliee.

His Italian father made sure family values, love and support were central to life. Jonathan and his two sisters had a happy childhood in Dartmouth and attended all three local schools. But a young Jonathan realised that life was not always so rosy for other youngsters around him.

Jonathan studied for his degree at the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth and worked for the Devon County Council Youth Service in Dartmouth and the surrounding area, supporting the creation of village youth clubs.

He worked at colleges in Tiverton and Exmouth giving employment training to young people including youngsters who had learning disabilities, and young offenders. Jonathan also spent time with Connexions, working with homeless young people in Exeter.

A talented pianist and organist, Jonathan joined the Baptist Church in Dartmouth when he was a youngster and began playing the piano for services. He is the youngest church organist in the area and Sundays are spent travelling from church to church throughout the region playing piano or the organ.

All the time, Jonathan is looking for new ways to reach out to young people: “We are currently developing online youth work which is especially important for those young people who don’t come out to socialise, who are maybe isolated at home. The home has changed. People no longer sit together, watch television and take time out. Young people are constantly communicating – texting, messaging and emailing sometimes across the room.

“Meanwhile stronger family ties are often no longer there – we have a part to play in helping young people become equipped for life.”

First Published March 2010 By The Dart