ABOUT US
The Core Youth and Community Centre is a vital resource located in Saltash, Cornwall.
We provide young people locally with a wide range of opportunities, activities and vital services. Our aim is to enable children, teenagers and young adults to build positive relationships, strengthen and develop self-esteem confidence, and to empower them to have a positive impact on their community. We offer a full youth work programme which includes youth nights and sporting and creative activities. We also provide a one-to-one advice service with expert youth workers, offering guidance and support in a safe space about everything from mental wellbeing to sexual health.
The Core is also a buzzing community centre, allowing a variety of local groups to run classes and activities for local people during the day. With a variety of rooms plus enclosed outdoor spaces, The Core is also available for one-off hire for parties, meetings and special events. We also host a number of our own events throughout the year, bringing together the local community in Saltash and beyond, while helping to raise funds for and awareness of our important youth services.
As a registered charity, we are thankful to our management committee, who give their time and expertise to ensure the The Core meets its aims and responsibilities in serving the community. Our current team and committee members introduce themselves below.
THE CORE STAFF TEAM
Charlotte Carpenter – Youth Worker Co-ordinator & Centre Manager
I am Charlotte, the Youth Work Co-ordinator and Centre Manager of The Core. I have been involved with The Core for nearly 9 years now, starting off as a Committee member, then volunteering to get the climbing club back up and running. I love my job and have been a youth and community worker for over 20 years now and it never gets boring!
After finishing my degree in Sociology and Psychology in Cheltenham I then later completed my JNC Youth & Community Work qualification in Westhill, Birmingham. I have had some interesting youth work jobs to include running my own portable youth club on wheels!!
I am a local girl and grew up in Rilla Mill near Callington so when my husband got a teaching job in Plymouth 17 years ago I was so excited to be coming home and finally living near the sea again!
Tina Eaton – Centre Administrator
I was brought up in Malawi and moved to Saltash in 2013. I still remember the day I said to Charlotte that if she ever needs any help with admin at The Core (many years ago now!) that I would be happy to help… the rest is history and now I am part of the team and love it!
Paige Barnard – Youth Support Worker
My journey into youth work started in 2013 when I moved to Plymouth and began my Fine Art degree. Alongside studying I volunteered for different mental health charities where I worked with young people experiencing psychosis and BPD. During these four years I learnt a lot about art as a therapeutic process, mental health and mindfulness. All of these things are now a huge passion of mine and feed into my art practice a great deal.
Chris Barber – Youth Support Worker
Dylan Slocombe – Youth Support Worker
Ruby Trotman – Trainee Youth Support Worker
Chris Barber – Qualified Climbing Instructor
Josie Burnett – Climbing Wall Assistant
The Core Management CommiTtee
Kirstie Dickson – Chair and Trustee
I was introduced to The Core through my Knit & Natter group who met there for weekly sessions. Having met Charlotte and learning about the diversity of work that the Core offers to local young people I realised what a positive influence my local ‘youth club’ had been to me when I was a teenager on the verge of making the wrong choices. The chance to be involved in an organisation with such passion for their work was one offer I couldn’t turn down.
Micky Northfield – Trustee and Treasurer
I have worked at The Core building since 2008, firstly as a Youth Worker with Cornwall Council then as an Information, Advice and Guidance worker with the Share Service. When Cornwall Council disestablished generic youth work in 2015 I joined the Management Committee as a volunteer youth worker supporting the youth projects. As founder of Saltash Amateur Boxing Club I have a long affiliation with a number of the current management team, delivering various youth projects for the benefit of young people. Previously I was a bilingual illiterate, being unable to read and write in two languages, since then I have a Masters from the UCL and use the experience and skillset for the development of young people’s outcomes, achievements and their progression journey.