Over 30 years’ making a difference to the lives of young people

After more than 30 years making a difference to the lives of young people throughout Orkney, the Council’s Maureen Herdman has decided to pass the baton on to someone else.

Her last working day as a Youth and Family Learning Worker was – April 1 – and unfortunately, it’s no April Fool’s Day joke, she really is retiring.

“A very unfortunate date to retire,” Maureen laughed. “It’s time now though I think. My opposite number is someone I had as a youth, then I had her children who are now grown up, I thought I should leave before I have her grandchildren! I love walking along the street or being on a night out and all the young people come and speak to me and tell all their friends I was their youth worker. There is no better praise.”

Maureen, or “Mo” as she is affectionately known to many, has enjoyed watching many young people grow in confidence, while reaching their full potential in an informal setting.

“It is so rewarding to see young people develop their skills. I have seen them away on trips home and abroad, maybe for the first time off the island - it is a privilege not even their parents get to see firsthand.”

Maureen has made a huge difference to the lives of many folk, young and old, not just through her paid role, but also as a stalwart community volunteer – and this is something she plans to continue.

“I am still going to be involved in the Police Scotland Young Volunteers’ Group and Orkney Association of Youth Groups voluntarily - they don’t get rid of me so easily!”

Maureen has over three decades worth of experience as a Youth and Family Learning Worker and Award Group Worker/Moderator working in conjunction with many partner agencies to promote the wellbeing of young people. She has worked alongside Youth Clubs, schools and Police Scotland Youth Volunteers’ Group, delivering the likes of First Aid Ready, Confidence to Cook, Dynamic Youth and Hi5 training.

“I have had the best job in the world! I certainly would encourage anyone to get involved with Youth Work. These young people are not just our future they are the present as well. They are getting far more opportunities to be involved in decision making, for the country and our future than ever before, and are making their mark on the whole community.

“We should be so proud of our next generation. I feel privileged to have worked with the young people in Orkney. No matter where I have taken them in the world, they have been commended on their manners and behaviour. This is thanks to the community we live in, and, of course, their parents.”

Maureen’s exemplary work was recognised nationally, and she was presented with a lifetime achievement award in Glasgow in 2018 by the Lifetime Achievement Fellowship of YouthLink Scotland for her “tremendous impact on the lives of young people”.

Maureen is particularly well known around the West Mainland for all her volunteering work – in fact it was volunteering that led to Maureen’s career path with young people.

Initially, she started out as a volunteer at Stromness Youth Club, before being offered a part-time job. Sometime later, she applied and was successful in getting a job with Youth Scotland and was offered part-time work with Community Learning and Development at the Council.

A board member of Youth Scotland, Maureen was invited to the Queen’s Garden Party at Holyrood for service to the community where she met and spoke to a “very handsome young man called Prince William”. More recently she had the honour of being a Queen’s Jubilee baton bearer in Stromness for her work with youngsters.

“What a fraud I am! Getting recognition for doing something I love seems wrong somehow, but I have still been very honoured all along the way, whether it is local or national recognition.”

Maureen is planning on spending more time with her family during retirement and travelling a bit more.

Perhaps not blessed with a superior level of culinary skills in the kitchen, Maureen has told daughters, Gemma and Leona, that she is going to learn to cook. “I was basically told, ‘why change the habit of a lifetime’”!

On a more serious note, however, Maureen is going to miss the young people she has worked with and them her - and the “great” team within Community Learning and Development.

“We have worked together for many years, and they have been a great support to me (they know who they are).”

The Council’s Service Manager (Community Learning, Development & Employability), Kerry Spence, said: “We have been incredibly blessed within youth services in Orkney to have had Maureen as a pivotal part of the team for so many years. Just like the rest of us, she has youth work and community learning and development searing through her veins.  It’s something that is just in her.  Mo is an amazing youth worker and has made such a difference in so many lives over the last 30 years.

“The team and the young people and their families will miss her hugely, but we know that she won’t be a stranger as volunteering is also something that is very close to her heart. We wish Mo a long and happy retirement and many more years making a difference to the communities in whichever way she chooses.”