Award for youth work mentor Ann

A hard-working Worcester City Council employee who helps young people stay away from crime, drugs and alcohol has been honoured with a major award.
 
Ann Nicholls, the Council’s Detached Youth Team Manager, has been recognised for her work helping University of Worcester students to learn the skills they need to work with young people.
 
Ann scooped the prize at the Mentor Awards 2016, jointly run by the NHS and the University.
 
She said: “I feel honoured to be able to work with young people and students, and to see them grow. But I feel I’m just doing my job – I don’t expect to win an award!”
 
Ann leads a team dedicated to engaging with young people across Worcester to help them make positive life style choices. Her work involves visiting schools, youth centres and other venues, as well as talking to young people on the streets to help them understand important issues like drugs, alcohol and avoiding abusive relationships.
 
She has mentored students from the University for seven years and has seen many of them go on to launch successful careers in jobs dedicated to helping and supporting young people.
 
Ann was nominated for the award by student Callie Artis, who is in her final year of studying Youth and Community at the University and plans to follow in her mentor’s footsteps.
 
Callie said: “She is just amazing. She’s always there for me and if it wasn’t for Ann I don’t think I’d be graduating next year.”
 
Councillor Lynn Denham, the Council’s Cabinet member for Sustainable Communities, said: “Ann is dedicated to helping young people in Worcester to make the right choices in their lives and she’s a fantastic ambassador for this important area of the Council’s work. It’s great to see her commitment to helping the next generation of youth workers recognised with this award.”