Jay Wight – Life Beyond His 30 Under 30 Win

So how does one start to talk about their success of winning a Gef 30 Under 30. Well for me it will contain feelings of cringe as I hate talking about myself……I want to come across as some intelligent wordsmith but that certainly isn’t me, so here goes!

It’s crazy to think you can be recognised for doing something you just love doing; in my case, helping others. So, here’s a micro version of my journey to this point.

It all started in the big smoke where a young Jay Wight was brought into the world with two awesome parents, who later in life young Jay would find to be of limitless love and support with the odd “why are you in so late and in such a state” (poetry intended).

Fast forward 28 years and I’m a Gef 30 under 30 Community Impact Winner and it’s as simple as that…. yeh, I wish!

Everyone travels on their road and what that looks like is totally unique. Some look very well put together and can happen very efficiently, and others are like Douglas Prom; uncertain as to whether they are finished and take a lifetime.

Career Journey

My road starts with a 16-year-old Jay being encouraged by school to get a job as he wasn’t attending his A-Level Sociology, P.E and Classical Studies lessons (misfit choices, I know!) due to prolonged cigarette breaks that no 16-year-old should be taking. Lloyds Bank were the lucky recipients of an enthusiastic Jay who wanted to impress in his first job.

Three employers, 6 jobs and several managers later, I knew that Admin work was not for me, and I needed to try something new. I then worked for St. Christopher’s Fellowship with vulnerable young people in a Secure Facility. I think I was about a week into working at St. Christopher’s and I knew supporting people was the one for me. It helped provide so much clarity in my life and made me move away from the things that didn’t bring me joy and move towards the things that gave me pure joy, happiness and Love!

After a few years of working with young people and moving through a few jobs that weren’t for me, an opportunity of a lifetime would come up and a few friends tagged me in an Advert “Isle Listen are looking for a Wellbeing Practitioner” and I was a total Isle Listen Fanboy (which I stated very clearly in my interview) so how could I resist this amazing opportunity?

Sole Mates

What is Sole Mates? Well, it’s a Free Social Wellbeing group aimed at getting people active with low intensity walks every Wednesday. I started this in 2021 thanks to my amazing colleague and friend, Hannah May.

I floated the idea by her and explained I’d wanted to do this for ages but didn’t have the courage and felt a little silly running something like this. Moments later, Hannah opened Canva and had created an awesome looking poster and encouraged me to do it. I was so grateful for the support but internally I was in total panic mode – “What if people hate it? What if no one comes? Is it even a good idea?”

I can tell you now after over 100 walks, I’ve realised one thing – it doesn’t matter what the masses think. All that matters is that I tried something and that it’s helping one or two people in the process. Sole Mates has seen over 60 beautiful Soles; some have come once, and others

have been there since the first walk – all bringing unique qualities and struggles. Some talk about those struggles and some don’t and that’s cool!

Basically, what I’m trying to tell you – go and try something even if it feels uncomfortable. What’s the worst that can happen?

Isle Listen and Me

As you can probably gather, I got the job! I was so buzzed about the news and couldn’t wait to get stuck in and start working with young people.

Little did I know that I wasn’t just starting a new job that I thought I would like. I was joining a community of people who all wanted the same thing; to help young people improve their Mental Health and make the community a better place for current and future generations. Not only are the people here all engaged in wanting to do good, but they are also a fun, loving, energetic, creative, mental bunch of beautiful humans whom I get to call my family.

Since November 2022, I have supported 70 young people on a 1:1 basis with a varied amount of different support needs; anxious thoughts and feelings, low moods and depressive symptoms, friendship issues, bullying issues, identity struggles, low self-esteem, relationship disputes.

I am so privileged to be in a position where I am trusted to help young people with their struggles and this is all made possible with an amazing team of people working at Isle Listen.

I come into work feeling excited for the day and enthused to make a change – I encourage you so much to find something that gives you that feeling, whether that be a hobby, volunteering, a new career, a part time career or just doing something for you that makes you feel excited and enthused!

A Message to Younger Jays out there

“Right Jay! Say something really inspiring and make it seem really cool and play it off like you’re a total guru”

I don’t have that in me, sorry.

Life is complicated at times so focus on what’s in your control, take small steps towards a life that YOU want (yes you, not what others want), be around people who fill your life with love, joy, safety and positive vibes, cut yourself some slack, don’t rush things (you have a whole life ahead of you) and just aim to be happy; whatever that looks like.