Jill Nathan

I have worked with young people in and around the Birmingham area for the past 25 years, through outreach work; educational group work, peer research, informal learning, information and guidance, and work within the criminal justice system.

This includes work across a broad range of curriculum areas including arts, teenage pregnancy and parenting, employment, education and training, drugs work, anti-racist work and anti-social behaviour.

Immediately prior to coming to University College Birmingham my role focused on young people’s participation through the development and delivery of a youth strategy for the 3 Estates in Kings Norton for the New Deal for Communities Programme. The project increased the active involvement of young people in changing their local community through shaping service delivery, coordination, policy development and evaluation. This work was recognised both locally and nationally as best practice in the sector and contributed to my Advanced Practitioner status.

Whilst in practice I supervised fieldwork practice for college students and also undertook some guest lecturing in youth work at De Montfort University and The University of Worcester.

I have worked as a full-time higher education lecturer at University College Birmingham since 2011. As well as managing the Youth, Community and Families BA, my current role involves developing and delivering modules across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses within the School of Education and Community, and supervising JNC Fieldwork Practice.

My key teaching responsibilities focus on Youth and Community Development Work, Social Justice and the management of services for children and young people.

Young people’s participation; the development of sexual health services for young people.

I continue to be a part-time youth worker for Birmingham Youth Service.