Jo Sherwood

Kia ora!

Jo, originally from Canterbury in England, moved to beautiful Aotearoa in 2012 with her partner Carl.

She started her youth work journey in early 2000’s as a mentor supporting students and newly arrived refugees/migrants; quickly upskilling to be a youth coach with a focus on supporting young people with housing issues and career support. Jo spent several years in schools and coordinating a programme supporting young people NEET in rural and urban settings. Noting this as a key realisation on the varied and dynamic spaces youth work takes place.

Jo completed a Masters in Education and Community Learning while taking a year out to drive trucks through Europe. Much of the last 10 years has been in the youth participation space and Jo is currently Youth team leader for the Hurunui district, which she calls home with Carl, daughter Darcie and a menagerie of pets. Jo is passionate about supporting our amazing volunteers and young leaders who are what makes our community and support our rangatahi, often in addition to very busy lives.

Jo says she is grateful to ‘love what I do, and do what I love’ and is committed to a sector that invests in it’s people, with relevant and practical training and skill development. Jo says Rerenga Awa has given her so much in a short space of time, her involvement in the board is to contribute to the sector and advocate for rural communities.