Meet the Team - Ella Barrie
Ella Barrie joined The Island in 2019. Her background working in youth services and SEN education made her the perfect person to support the children and young people who we work with. Approachable and bubbly, read on to find out what makes Ella tick.
Describe what you do within your role?
I am the Mentee Liaison and Office Lead and my role is to be the main point of call for the staff team and process all the referrals that come into our charity. Once a referral is processed, I visit the prospective mentee and their family to check that we are the best, most beneficial support service for them. I also work out what bespoke support packages would work best for each individual whether that be, six months of group provision or 52 weeks of mentoring through our one to one programme.
Why did you want to pursue a career in the charity youth sector?
My parents fostered children whilst I was growing up and it was great to see how having positive role models shaped their lives for the better. This experience inspired me to want to support people in the local community which I find very rewarding. I began working in the community at the age of 17 and enjoy working with vulnerable children through youth-based provisions.
What inspired you to want to work with The Island?
With previous experience in working with vulnerable children and a passion to help the next generation to thrive, I was keen to work with The Island due to their strong reputation in supporting young people living in and around York. I love doing good in my work, and I feel I can go home at the end of the day feeling happy knowing that I have made a positive difference in someone’s life.
Can you share with us your proudest achievement at The Island so far?
One of my proudest achievements is that I originally started working for The Island in 2019 on a 7.5 hour contract, as a play and support worker, working one evening a week. Then less than a year and a half later I was offered a 37.5 hour contract in a role that I love.
Why are mentoring services important to children and young people?
Mentoring services for young people are so incredibly important as it gives the young person time away from the family home and school and the opportunity to build a positive relationship with their one to one mentor, giving them someone then can open up to and enjoy fun experiences with. Its very beneficial as its proven to improve confidence, self -esteem and mental wellbeing.
Finally, can you share with us one technique you have used to help improve a child or young person’s confidence?
One tip I have used in helping my mentees confidence was to find something they were passionate about and interested in, then get them to try a hobby or something new within that. For example, I noticed my mentee loved to do dances on TikTok so from there, I booked us an introductory Zumba session to try, which they ended up loving and now goes each week. Their confidence has improved massively through attending each week as they can see themselves improving every week.



