Hannah Lewis: The Hwb, Torfaen

Hannah is qualified youth worker, based in The Hwb in Blaenavon where she has a massive impact on all the staff, young people and partner agencies that she engages with.

Hannah’s principal role combines coordinating the delivery of services to young people in Blaenavon through partnership and also directly delivering services to young people. The Hwb is a pioneering partnership made up of the local authority youth service and the third sector organisation, Hwb Torfaen – it is a lifeline for the young people of Blaenavon. It offers excellent youth work opportunities to young people in one of the most deprived communities in Torfaen, drawing on the best resources the statutory and third sector has to offer.

Hannah also supports young people with Type 1 Diabetes through a partnership project with Aneurin Bevan University Heath Board, where she provides a link between the young person and the health service, improving communications and strengthening relationships.

The judging panel highlighted how successfully Hannah has championed youth work with partners locally. As an individual she is dynamic, enthusiastic and committed. Hannah is an excellent example of how by working collaboratively and using youth work approaches as a foundation for engaging with young people it is possible to make a real and sustainable difference in young people’s lives.