Our Staff Stories
We’re so proud of our brilliant team and the work they do, which you’ll see snippets of below – but not everyone works directly with young people! We’ve got a wonderful team working in Finance, Fundraising & Communications, Estates, and more, who all contribute to the day-to-day operations and coordination of Creative Youth Network. We each have a part to play in sustaining the future of youth work in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
“My name is Esmée (they/them) and I work as a freelancer for Creative Youth Network, as Social Media Content Creator for The Courts project and doing some general marketing/social media support for the rest of the organisation.
I love Creative Youth Network for the incredible work they do to support young creatives from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their career dreams, aswell as the support they provide on a general basis for people from systemically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The team are super friendly, caring and supportive; and it’s an honour to work alongside such lovely people whose work is very much in alignment with what I believe our community and society needs in order to help people thrive.”
Our Delivery Team
Our Estates Team
“My name is Jesse, and I’m the venue Co-ordinator at The Courts. I oversee the day-to-day activities and hires at The Courts, as well as acting as a first liaison point for any organisations using our tenanted spaces.
“Besides my role at CYN, I’m a musician, specifically a woodwind doubler- I play sax, flute and clarinet in a number of projects, the main one being a member of Dutty Moonshine Big Band.
“Queer spaces act as a second home to many people- it’s a place to feel at ease with who you are, to exist without judgement or prejudice, surrounded by other people who understand and empathise with your perspective. Many queer spaces also help provide opportunities for the members of the LGBTQIA+ community to create and develop their art, whatever form that might look like, and provide a platform for it to be celebrated.
“As a new space, we really have the capacity to mould how The Courts is used- so I’m excited to get the building buzzing and to get to know the young people we’ll be supporting in their creative careers.”
“Hi! I’m Joseph and I’m the Front of House Assistant at The Courts, the friendly face who’ll help you utilise the building to support you to your fullest potential. Outside of The Courts, I wear many hats! I am a theatre director who thrives under multidisciplinary collaboration, a cabaret show producer with the drag collective House of Zodiac, and a voice actor for The Attic Monologues. It is important to me to represent a diverse range of creative pursuits outside of work, as I am fuelled by a variety of interests.
“Queer spaces are important as it is crucial for LGBTQIA+ people to have places where they can come together as a community. Having building that allow and uplift LGBTQIA+ people is fundamental to acceptance and growth, there are so many spaces that are exclusionary to our community.
“I’m so excited to have The Courts as a space for young people to access creative careers, and to help incredible events happen here. “If you are a young person and you want to run your own event, please get in touch at: info@creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk or pop in for a chat! We are open Monday – Friday 9am-5pm. I would really love to hear your ideas!”
