Erin’s Journey through The KEY+ Challenge!
When Erin first took on the KEY+ Challenge, supported by NE Youth, she had no idea how much it would shape her confidence, leadership skills, and future plans. What started as a way to try new things with friends soon turned into a journey of personal growth, community impact, and new opportunities.
Starting Out: Confidence, Independence & Fun:
Erin’s first KEY+ projects (Stage 1 and 2) with her group, Spice Up Your Life, were all about stepping out of their comfort zone and planning something fun together. Her group planned lots of exciting activities – from bowling and visiting a cat café in Newcastle to travelling to York for Harry Potter-themed crazy golf and tackling the York Dungeons.
Levelling Up: Making a Real Impact at Stage 3:
Taking on Stage 3 of the KEY+ Challenge is always a big feat but Spice Up Your Life weren’t daunted by it. The group wanted to do something that would help their community and knew families struggling with the cost of living could do with a positive and free activity to do in the summer holidays. They hosted activities like hook-a-duck, bouncy castles, sand art and name-the-teddy – and they got over 100 attendees! They also smashed their fundraising goal, raising £700 to fund a follow-on trip for families in need.
After that success, Erin and her group weren’t stopping there. As part of KEY+ Changemakers, they pulled off another awesome community event – an outdoor cinema night! They got local businesses to pitch in, ran a Facebook poll to see what people wanted, and made it happen. Another win, another big impact!
Finding Her Voice: Becoming a Leader:
Through these KEY+ experiences, Erin’s confidence skyrocketed. She discovered how much she loved organising, leader, and making a difference – which led her to get even more involved through The Key’s youth voice group.
Then came one of her biggest moments yet – hosting The Key Awards 2024! Standing on stage, hosting the event, alongside Lily and Sophie, and celebrating other young people’s achievements was a massive step.
And she’s ready for more: “I’m hoping to host The Key Awards again this year […] and maybe try see if we can get any more funding for new events as well.”
Skills For Life: The Key’s Impact on Erin:
From avoiding phone calls to now the stage, Erin’s development has been immense. When speaking about how participating in KEY+ would help her in the future, she feels that she now has “the confidence to speak to new people and make new friends.” Erin also feels like she is now able to cope in new environments and with new challenges.
Not to mention, thanks to a ton of enriching opportunities, Erin’s CV is stacked with real-world experience in planning, problem-solving, volunteering and communication: “There’s lots of things from The Key that I can put on my CV.”
What’s Next?
Erin’s not slowing down anytime soon! She’s still part of The Key’s youth voice group, getting stuck in and thinking about how she can make even more of an impact.
Her advice for anyone thinking about giving KEY+ a go? “It’s definitely a good thing to do, it’s boosted my confidence more than I could’ve imagined and it also allowed me to come out of my shell and meet new people that I never thought I would meet.”
With her passion, skills, and drive, Erin is proving that when young people take the lead, amazing things happen. And we can’t wait to see what she does next!
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The Key