Meet the Luton Team

I've been part of the Youthscape team on the ground doing youth work in Luton for the last 7 years. I'm currently leading a sports project that mixes low-level therapeutic work with football in schools as well as helping with the NEET intervention work Youthscape do. I'm passionate about creativity including investigating digital incarnational youth work and what youth work looks like in this new frontier.

I run Compass, our NEET intervention programme, and am passionate about seeing young people know their value, grow in confidence and be empowered to make positive choices for their future. I’ve been involved in youth work for 10 years, studied Psychology at university, and am currently working towards becoming a counsellor. In my spare time I love a wild swim – a morning sea swim is my favourite Christmas tradition. I recently took up Salsa dancing, so watch out for me on Strictly sometime, and I’m a strong believer that there’s a Swiftie inside of everyone, you’ve just got to find the right song.

Working with Compass, our NEET (Not in Education, Employment or training) Intervention Programme, I get to help young people realise their full potential no matter what they’re going through. It also means I’ve been on survival school training several times so I know how to skin a pigeon and I’ve got certificates in bushcraft and wilderness living. Important office skills. My degree was in sport and physical education so I’m also a qualified basketball and football coach, a fitness fanatic you might say. When I’m not at Youthscape I love writing, dancing, spending time with my young son, and serving in my local church with my husband. Oh, I’m half Swiss and my middle names are Elsa Olive.