Skip to content
wiseabap

wiseabap

The ramblings of a malcontent

  • Nextdoor NI
  • Learning Dreams
  • Stop Attacks
  • About Wiseabap

Author: wiseabap

Engagement specialist and former co-founder and CEO of Public Achievement - a multi-award winning youth serving agency
Uncategorized

Time for ‘Civic Courage’

Over the summer I attended an engaging seminar run by Corrymeela with a  range of local and international participants examining the challenges of tackling paramilitarism in our society.  A participant from England (who is active in tackling extremism there) related how he sensed a palpable fear in the room.  People from a range of public … Continue reading Time for ‘Civic Courage’

November 21, 2018November 21, 2018Leave a comment
#stopattacks, Fresh Start, Moral Panics, Stop Attacks, Youth, Youth Work

Careless State

A number of reports like this one have appeared in the press today.  The stories tell of a teenager apparently out of control, going on some sort of violent rampage, who allegedly (he hasn't been convicted of anything yet) attacked a Range Rover car with a baseball bat. The boy (he is 17) has now been … Continue reading Careless State

June 6, 2018Leave a comment
#stopattacks, Youth, Youth Work

Imagine – Something Else

Imagine - being a short female youth worker, and desperately gripping the legs of a young person who is trying to hang himself outside your youth club.  Pushing up for all your might to stop the life slipping from him. Imagine, being told to choose between being shot in the knees, ankles and hands with … Continue reading Imagine – Something Else

October 31, 2017Leave a comment
Stop Attacks, Youth Work

He Jumped on It “…to see what it would feel like”

  The story of a young man who recently met the 'justice' of a paramilitary 'punishment shooting'. Let’s call him Jacko[1].  He told me he remembers when he was 4 being sent to the shops by his drunken mother and seeing a pile of old wood including a piece with a large nail sticking through … Continue reading He Jumped on It “…to see what it would feel like”

August 8, 2017#stopattacks, youth3 Comments
Moral Panics, Youth, Youth Work

Where Now for Youth Work?

I am delighted to have been awarded a contract by the Building Change Trust to write an opinion piece on the future of youth work here.  I say youth work rather than 'The Youth Service' - as I believe the latter should be designed in service of the former. I have been involved in youth … Continue reading Where Now for Youth Work?

June 7, 2017August 8, 2017Leave a comment
Uncategorized

It Feels Like Contempt!

If you've been following me, or other youth workers on Twitter and Facebook, then you will know that there has been a funding crisis over the past several months in the sector.  This crisis started when the former Education Minister Peter Weir, failed to extend funding known as 'Extended Provision' into another financial year.  There … Continue reading It Feels Like Contempt!

March 30, 2017Leave a comment
Uncategorized

Don’t Forget to Chuckle!

The recent resignation of Martin McGuinness as Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister reminded me of this photo and of an extraordinary meeting I had with him, the late Ian Paisley and Miren Azkarate Villar - the former Basque Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport in late 2007. It was toward the end of the 'Bromance' … Continue reading Don’t Forget to Chuckle!

February 2, 2017Leave a comment

Posts navigation

Older posts

Recent Thoughts

  • Time for ‘Civic Courage’
  • Careless State
  • Imagine – Something Else
  • He Jumped on It “…to see what it would feel like”

Archives

  • November 2018
  • June 2018
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • July 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • November 2015
  • November 2014
  • February 2014
  • November 2013
  • September 2013
  • March 2013
  • October 2012

Categories

  • #stopattacks
  • Fresh Start
  • Moral Panics
  • Nextdoor UK
  • Politics
  • Stop Attacks
  • Uncategorized
  • Youth
  • Youth Work

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.com
  • Nextdoor NI
  • Learning Dreams
  • Stop Attacks
  • About Wiseabap
Blog at WordPress.com.
wiseabap
Blog at WordPress.com.
Cancel