Meet The Founder
Every town has kids who are struggling. I used to be one of those kids.
After nearly 20 years as an alcoholic, addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, and living on the streets, I finally broke free in August 2008. Leaving a residential rehab unit in North Wales, I knew education would be key to my transformation. By 2014, I had graduated as a teacher.
I began my career by working with adult ex-offenders and supporting people experiencing homelessness in the voluntary sector. Eventually, I started my own training company, 4:28 Training. This venture allowed me to design creative courses without being bogged down by unrealistic targets and outcomes. I focused on the most important aspect of the work: supporting and teaching individuals.
Ambassador for Lifelong Learning
As an Ambassador for Lifelong Learning, I spoke at various events about the transformative power of education. At one such event, I met Mair Edwards, Communities Manager for a local housing association, Grwp Cynefin. Mair managed a small homeless prevention unit, Yr Hafod, in Denbigh, North Wales. She invited me to deliver employability skills courses to their residents. I eagerly accepted and delivered a couple of 10-week courses to an incredible group of young people. Rather than having them fill out workbooks, I set real-life challenges, focusing on experiential learning and practical skills like problem-solving, planning, organizing, and critical thinking.
During my time at Yr Hafod, I was asked to speak with two young men who needed encouragement and support. They were known to the police and were bored, craving something meaningful to do and a positive role model to guide them.
Finding a solution to anti-social behavior
Inspired by this interaction, I set a challenge for my employability group: “Come up with a young person’s solution to anti-social behavior in Denbigh.” The young people expressed a need for a space of their own, where they could engage in practical projects of their choosing, find safety, and be supported by a trusted adult. They wanted a place of encouragement and challenge – a place of transformation. And so, Youth Shedz was born.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Later, I attended a training session on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and realized that Youth Shedz was addressing these issues. Instead of punishing young people at risk or involved in anti-social behavior, I wanted to understand the underlying causes – grief, incarcerated relatives, substance misuse. Youth Shedz provided these young people with a space to grow and develop.
Those two young men have since completed college and are on their way to successful lives.
Now, the vision is to expand Youth Shedz with other partners and plant a Shed in every town. Thank you for joining me and the team in this vision!
Scott Jenkinson, CEO and Chief Shed Planter, Youth Shedz