David Nice is a Youth Work Level 3 apprentice and works as a Youth Worker at Conwy County Council, he was nominated for Apprentice of the Month by his assessor Nia for going out of his way to find opportunities to gain experience for his qualification and for his commitment to the course. David was born in Bangor and has since lived in Holyhead, Llandudno, and Wrexham and now Flintshire, and I now in Conwy. He attended Ysgol Thomas Ellis Primary school in Holyhead and Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge.
Why did you decide to take a Youth Work apprenticeship with the Urdd?
It was necessary for an element of my job to get this qualification, and the format was attractive to my employer because of the flexibility it offered.
What do you enjoy most about your job and how does the apprenticeship effect your job?
GenerallyI think I enjoy the simplicity of the young people even though they might have complicated lives they have fantastic perspectives and stops me becoming two cynical as I get older. The apprenticeship enables me to be to deliver units in School with the aim to educate and inform Young People in life skills so that they less likely become homeless, and if they do end up homeless to be safe as possible and know what to do. The apprenticeship has boosted my confidence in many areas which I wouldn’t have grown in otherwise.
How has doing the apprenticeship developed your Welsh skills?
It hasn’t at all unfortunately, although it isn’ttheUrdds fault. Having grown up with a Welsh speaking mother that talked to me in Welsh often enough, having been though primary and secondary education in Wales you’d imaging by now I’d be able to converse better than I can. So while I’mvery familiar with a lot of things like the all important “ga ifyndI’r toiled osgwelwchyndaa” as you know, you’d not want to be caught short, alas I’m afraid not gifted with languages unfortunately.
What are your interests outside the workplace?
I love walking my dog which is great fun in the summer. I also enjoy reading about geopolitics and international history. Although frankly with geopolitics, perhaps I might need to give it a break, as reading Peter Ziehan’s predictions about the impact of the coming demographic issues facing the western world and in particular parts of Europe wasrather grim reading indeed!
In which way does completing an apprenticeship effect your personal development?
It’s defiantly forced me to leave my comfort zone in many areas which as everyone tells me is a good thing. It’s also highlighted how quickly things can change even within a short space of time and why continues development is a good thing because the longer you leave it, the bigger and more traumatic the steps you have to take are when you have to catch up.
What do you hope to do after completing your apprenticeship?
Carry on as per normal I suppose, and use what I’ve learned to make me a better youth worker. Obviously it may give me more options moving forward too which is a good thing.
Describe your responsibilities.
I go in to schools and deliver homeless awareness session and deliver a money management unit. I also work with youngster up to 25 in the community that are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, I advocate for them, mediate disputes they have that might, and help them through a very difficult and complicated process should they become homeless.
Would you like to add anything about your story? How have you reached where you are now? What was/is your biggest challenge?
WellI’m not one for sharing these kinds of thing in public. I’ll just point out that I have loving wife and a good team around me to work with that mean I’m confident that I can overcome challenges ahead of me.