Desmond Richards

Des started working at Youth Moves in September 2020 as a Wellbeing Practitioner. He is employed through a partnership with the mental health charity Off the Record.

He works with young people who are experiencing low intensity anxiety and low mood within the south Bristol community. By using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and wellbeing techniques he delivers interventions to help young people challenge their thoughts, beliefs and behaviours.

For 13 years he worked at the Prince's Trust (formerly with Fairbridge) where he was a personal development tutor delivering interventions to young people who were NEET (not in education, employment or training) to develop confidence, team building and push them out of their comfort zone.

Youthwork for Des, is about supporting young people through a transitional time in their life for a variety of reasons, and helping them to find their identity to connect with their true inner-self.

Bike riding is a current favourite hobby, whether it's on a road, a mountain or indeed gravel, but in a previous life Des was a professional breakdancer who would tour with his troupe delivering shows all around the UK and Europe.