Glasgow youth worker on how 'small wins' make a big difference

Jamie O’Neill began working with youngsters in the Kingsway area of Glasgow several years ago after noticing “concerning” issues emerging.

The community development worker, who is based at Kingsway Community Connections (KCC), grew up in the area and felt something “needed to change”.

As such, he set up a weekly football group before officially joining KCC in 2024 and expanding that work.

Community development worker Jamie O'Neill at Kingsway Community Connections (Image: Gordon Terris)

Jamie said: “I first came to Kingsway when I was 14. Then, in 2021, I was passing through, and that’s when I saw some of the boys that I knew from years before selling drugs at the pitch.

“Other young boys as young as nine or 10 were playing on the same pitch, and it was just normalised for them.

“This wasn’t normal for me. It wasn’t the Kingsway I recognised, and I’d only been out maybe two or three years.

“I just bought some footballs and started a regular football group, but then I started to understand that almost every one of the boys was having issues.

“They had a lot going on in each one of their lives, and they were sort of congregating and becoming mates at the pitch.

“I met with Lainy (managing director at KCC), and we started working together.”

Community development worker Jamie O'Neill and managing director Lainy Bedingfield at Kingsway Community Connections (Image: Gordon Terris)

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KCC states that it is currently only funded to provide four hours of dedicated youth work each week through a grant from the KFC Youth Foundation.

Despite this, Jamie and other members of staff support young people almost every day through a variety of activities.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, a group of boys attend boxing classes at the Antonine Boxing Club, on Tuesdays, there is a football session and game later in the evening at St Roch’s Secondary School, and finally on Thursdays, there is an open youth group.  

At present, the group sessions are open to boys aged 11 and upwards and encourage their potential whilst also addressing any issues that arise.

Jamie recalled a recent “small win” where a teenage boy made important steps to moving away from violence affecting young people.

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He said: “You do have small wins. I just sat with a boy, he’s been wanting to go boxing, and he’s been doing well, but I constantly remind him, ‘you need to stay away from all this other stuff then’.

“I’ll be honest, that wee guy last year, there were some difficulties, but he’s away from that life now.

“There was pressure, but no one was giving him answers; he was just being told ‘don’t do this’ whereas I was like ‘wee man, go try boxing’.

“He’s gone there, and the coaches have been giving him respect and encouragement. He’s probably never had that anywhere else.

“Then last week he texted me and said he’s going to be fighting in a home show in May. I told him I was so proud of him, and he said ‘thanks for the opportunity’ but I never gave him the opportunity.

“I just suggested boxing. He’s literally just saved his own life by focusing on something and diverting himself away.

“I see a massive change in him.”

Jamie went on to explain that whilst this work is essential for the youngsters’ wellbeing, the charity is “struggling” to provide it due to a reported lack of funding.

He worries that if services like KCC aren’t funded, it risks leaving young people without guidance, and those important relationships would break down.

Jamie added: “My worry is if we were to shut our doors today, I think within a matter of weeks, you’ll have young people without guidance and leadership, and they will get into these online dramas and fights.

“We’re trying to deal with what we can, but I think we’re just scratching the surface. We’re an independent community anchor organisation that wants to help everybody.

“I think the next stage needs to be us training up young people to become the next wave of either youth workers or leaders to potentially continue that work.

“We know what needs fixed, but we’re sort of struggling with the four hours a week when we could have 25 to 35 young people show up.”

The Glasgow Times has launched a series titled Priced Out of Potential? The Fight for Youth Work in Glasgow.

Over the course of this week, we will be examining what funding looks like at a local and national level, speaking to staff about the importance of investing in youth work, and hearing from young people about what it actually means to them.