Youth and experience

Mother and daughter team Yvonne Thomkins and Amanda Kentstone make it a blend of youth and experience down at the Sainsbury’s store in Crystal Palace and their winning tactics are getting results.

"My mum's like my coach, always on hand to guide and advise me," said 22 year old Amanda Kentstone, who has been a rep for 18 months.

"So I knew exactly what the job entailed before I took it on, which helped. But that doesn't stop the nerves when you go in to see management for the first time with a member's problem, but these experiences help you grow."

Amanda believes young people are the best recruiters of young workers. The former student joined the union two years ago when she started working full-time at the Sainsbury's store, part of the Selhurst Park complex and home of Crystal Palace Football Club.

"There are more and more students working in retail now and it's important they realise they share the same problems as full-time workers. I've had a lot of success recruiting young people and students in my store, basically because I can relate to them and their issues.

"I fully understand why some young people are reluctant to join but when you become a rep and see the problems young workers face first hand it soon hits home how valuable the union is.

"I recently represented a 20 year old colleague on a breach of procedures issue and helped save her job. She was so relieved she told everyone and two young workers signed up immediately."

For more information and advice visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/youngworkers

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