We’re delighted to shine a supporter spotlight on volunteer Julia Cove-Smith, a passionate advocate for young people and a familiar face in WEST’s Sports Hall. Julia first connected with WEST Youth Zone before we opened and has been volunteering ever since, helping young people discover new sports and build confidence. We are excited to share her story!
Who are you?
I’m Julia, I grew up in the North East of England, but have lived in West London for over 25 years. I worked in large retail businesses for most of my career, and outside work have always volunteered working with young people in sport. After years of working for other brands, I recently launched my own business www.elevenasone.co.uk designing, making and selling women’s football kit.
What inspired you to support WEST Youth Zone at the beginning of our journey?
I live a 15 minute bike ride from WEST Youth Zone and have coached netball in some of the local primary schools, so feel really connected to the young people in this area and the team working with them. I understand the situation in local schools, and the pressure on teachers to fit so much into the school day. I love that the Youth Zone gives young people a chance to try new things in a relaxed environment, provides a space for them to socialise with each other after school and during the holidays and supports them with a committed team of youth workers who are there to listen and put the young people first.
How does the charity’s mission align with your values?
I really believe in the importance of giving young people access to opportunities they might not usually get. Whether it’s sport, drama, music, cooking or learning other new skills – all these things can help young people develop confidence, a sense of belonging, teamworking skills and resilience. WEST is open to any young person, whoever they are, wherever they live or go to school, and I love this inclusive approach.
What is your favourite room or activity in WEST?
I rarely leave the Sports Hall! It’s my favourite place to be, particularly when we have all the badminton nets out, or hold an impromptu netball match. It does get a bit noisy though, and I’d probably head to the climbing wall for a quieter sporting experience!
How have you supported us so far?
I volunteer in the Sports Hall on the Junior Session every Monday afternoon. We usually run at least 4 different activities in the space during the session – including badminton, basketball, cricket, curling, netball, champ, football and roller-skating (always the busiest session!)
What are you looking forward to about partnering with WEST Youth Zone in the future?
I’m looking forward to getting a bit more competitive with our sporting activities. The young people have really taken to badminton and we’re planning to start a badminton ladder over the next few weeks to encourage a bit more match play.
Why would you encourage other organisations/individuals to support us?
The great thing about supporting WEST Youth Zone is that you can immediately see the impact you’re having with your support. Even in the first year, we had over 35,000 member visits and welcomed over 3,000 young people through the doors. WEST gives young people somewhere safe to go and socialise, they can try new things, talk to each other or Youth Workers if they need support. It adds structure to young lives that are often complicated and stressful, and provides them with somewhere they can just be themselves and have fun. And if you have a few hours free and can volunteer too I can highly recommend it!
Supporters like Julia are at the heart of WEST, helping us create safe, inspiring spaces for thousands of young people. Last year, individual and family giving made up nearly half of our income, which means your support is vital to keep delivering high-quality youth work. Whether you’d like to donate or volunteer your time, you can make a real difference. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Shineade at Shineade.Burton@westyouthzone.org, or reach out to Lucy, Head of Fundraising and Communications Lucy.Tambyraja@westyouthzone.org to learn how you can help build brighter futures for our members.