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YOUTH SERVICE STRATEGY
Young people, youth work, youth service: National Youth Service Strategy
This was published in March 2007 after extensive consultation with the youth work field.
The Youth Service Strategy provides ‘a vision for youth work in Wales and its impact in contributing to the policy agendas of the Welsh Assembly Government’
Following reorganisation of DCELLS (the Welsh Assembly Government’s Department of Children, Education Lifelong Learning and Skills) the Youth Work Strategy Branch of the Children and Young People’s Strategy Division is responsible for the implementation of the Strategy.
The following are the main actions from the Strategy:
Regionalisation
One of the priorities is regionalisation based on the ADEW (Association of Directors of Education in Wales) areas that ‘links national, regional and local policy making, delivery and monitoring evaluation with the Assembly’s response to the Beecham report’. Principle Youth Officers in Wales have set up a structure
Scoping the Youth Services – an audit of the maintained and voluntary youth sector was carried out in Summer/ Autumn 2007 on organisations, workforce, and buildings. The aim of the scoping is to assist in the allocation of resources.
Standards
The Welsh Assembly Government have asked for standards to be developed that lay down principles for voluntary sector engagement and ‘make explicit the commitment to the Youth Service and Extending Entitlement’.
Workforce Development
The workforce development plan, which has been the subject of much consultation with the sector during 2007-8 is a major focus of the Strategy. Workforce development has become the responsibility of the Learning Improvement and Professional Development Division of DCELLS.
Capital and Revenue Funding 2008-9
Additional revenue and capital funding has become available and the local authority will submit proposals to WAG after consultation about local priorities with local stakeholders and draw down the funding after April 2008 once agreed. The revenue funding priority is training and workforce development linked to the YSS actions for increasing the qualifications (or equivalent) of the workforce including volunteers.
Capital and Revenue Funding 2009-10
Future funding is available for 2009-10. Contact the Principle Youth Office for further information.
Marketing
The aim of marketing the Youth Service is to increase the numbers of young people attending youth service provision and recruitment for the workforce. A marketing strategy group has met and priorities include youth work week, an advertising campaign, a good practice guide and a pack for youth workers promoting youth work as a career to young people.
Young People’s Participation in Decision Making
Organisations are expected to ‘play a leading role in engaging young people in making decisions, planning and reviewing actions on all matters that affect them’. A kite mark will be developed by the Participation Unit and the Participation Consortium based on the Participation standards
Outcomes for Young People and Measuring Impact
There is a focus in the strategy on outcomes and measuring impact including the Demonstrating Success project.
For more information on the Youth Service Strategy developments please contact CWVYS or log in the CWVYS members area (CWVYS members only)
More information on the Youth Service and Youth work can be obtained from the Welsh Assembly
Thanks Sam - Youth Work Wales
This initiative grew out of the Youth Service marketing strategy and has resulted in:
Development of the Youth Service Strategy
Youth Service Strategy Consultation Document is available to view here:
For the CWVYS response to this document published 24th January 2007, see related documents below.
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