Welcome to a sample skill for the Youthscape Essentials course. Each week we divide into small groups to explore a different skill through a practical exercise.

In this exercise we’re exploring how you build rapport with a young person. To put it another way, how do you sit and talk with a young person in a way that makes them feel safe, welcome and at ease?

In this imaginary conversation, you’ll be asked to think about what you might say to Ali. There aren’t hard and fast rules about what you should say, but in each section we suggest what might work best and why. Take time to think about the different answers and see what you learn…