Harry Clucas

A life-changing course

The BA Social Science, Community Development & Youth Work course was amazing, especially the part of the course where you go on a journey of understanding your own identity within ‘Group Work’ with fellow university colleagues. 

We used our experience, identity and role in the group as a microcosm to reflect on our position in society, through the lens of social difference, such as race, gender, culture, etc. This was the hardest part but the most useful.

I am a totally different person because of this course at Goldsmiths. I now always question what I do based on my identity. I am able to have open, uncomfortable, yet powerful conversations with young people in my current role, helping them reflect on who they are and their potential.

Working with young people

I am a CBT therapist for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the Solent NHS Trust. I love working with young people and helping them realise their potential.

The BA Social Science, Community Development & Youth Work course follows me in this career – I love providing a new, community-based perspective on young people’s lives and how their position in their community impacts their mental health.

I am now about to start my CBT Supervisors course, where I am creating a project to engage third-party and community organisations, to support young people’s mental health. In a year’s time, I hope to be beginning my Systemic Family Therapy masters.

Advice for future BA Social Science, Community Development & Youth Work students

Don’t be afraid of expressing who you are, even if it means you get challenged - use it as a wonderful learning experience about who you are. I was quite reserved as a white man, not talking about my identity and prejudices, I wished I talked about that more openly in the best place to do it.

Also for community and youth workers, get a challenging placement, one that tests you. Get stuck in.

Life in New Cross

There’s so much to do, and you can find cheap places. It was especially great for my course, because we started analysing the world, starting with the community we lived in. I really got to know it.

I grew up in Hertfordshire, New Cross was so different, that was a great experience in itself, to broaden my awareness of other places. I lived in Surrey House, and it was such an amazing place, where I met my best friends and my future wife.