Month: September 2023

Youth Work Funding review – phase one report.

Posted on by Helen

The report from the first phase of the Youth Work Funding Review has now gone live.

The full report can be accessed on University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s website here, and the summary here and via Welsh Government here.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this vital work so far. This work will help us to understand how the funding works in Wales, and the outcome of the research will underpin a lot of the work we are doing to develop a sustainable model for youth work going forward.

It is important that we get the views from a broad range of organisations who are delivering youth work services to help, so you if you are asked to participate, please do everything you can to support this work.

Voluntary Youth Work Organisations Support Scheme – Round 2 VYWOSS

Posted on by Helen

Our Voluntary Youth Work Organisations Support Scheme has now closed. This is a fantastic opportunity for local youth group organisations to gain access to crucial funds that will enable them to support young people across Wales.

Please ensure that you’ve read the guidance form before filling out an application form as this contains the key dates for applying in Round 2, information regarding the requirements for eligibility and general information on the scheme. If you are eligible, please contact Amanda@cwvys.org.uk in the first instance, using the application forms provided.

This is an ’emergency’ fund to support voluntary youth work organisations from going under and/or to be able to pay the bills and keep the doors open with current provision and services.

If you have been successful in your application and were awarded anything in Round 1, you will not be able to reapply. For those other applicants who we couldn’t support because we simply didn’t have enough to go around and/or were unsuccessful because they didn’t articulate the critical situation they faced and the need for the money, can reapply.

We will need organisations to give us a (estimate) breakdown of how much they need over the next 6 months and for which ‘bills’ rather than to and ask without any clear indication of where they will ringfence the money.

The VYWOSS fund It is not for new projects/activities that organisations would like to deliver.

Voluntary-Youth-Work-Organisations-Support-Scheme-Application-Form-1Download
Voluntary-Youth-Work-Organisations-Support-Scheme-GuidanceDownload

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Taith Pathway 2 notable dates

Posted on by Helen

The call for Taith Pathway 2 applications will open on October 5th! Further details and guidance will be available soon, but in the meantime, if you have any questions please contact enquiries@taith.wales

Bydd yr alwad am geisiadau Llwybr Taith 2 yn agor ar Hydref 5ed! Bydd rhagor o fanylion a chanllawiau ar gael yn fuan, ond yn y cyfamser, os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau, cysylltwch ag ymholiadau@taith.cymru

WCIA and CWYVS were working collaboratively as the Sector Organising Body for youth, and they have been very successful in promoting Taith to the sector.  In addition, WCIA were also successful in obtaining both Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 funding in 2022.

Looking ahead, Pathway 2 will be re-opening for it’s 2023 call on the 5th October and as such Taith will be hosting support events for potential applicants. Below are the event details and it would be great if you are able to attend and we can introduce you to the sectors as the Taith Champions and give you an opportunity to advice the attendees on your role and the support you can offer.

The events will all be online and the schedule is as follows:

  • Wednesday 27th September 2023 12.30-1.30pm Introduction to Taith (Welsh)
  • Wednesday 27th September 2023 4-5pm Introduction to Taith (English)
  • Monday 16th October 2023 12.30-1.30pm Introduction to Pathway 2 (Welsh)
  • Monday 16th October 2023 4-5pm Introduction to Pathway 2 (English)
  • Monday 23rd October 2023 12.30-1.30pm Application form, assessment criteria and assessor hints and tips (Welsh)
  • Monday 23rd October 2023 4-5pm Application form, assessment criteria and assessor hints and tips (English)
  • Monday 6th November 2023 4-5pm Q and A sessions for P2 (Bilingual)
  • Monday 13th November 2023 4-5pm Q and A sessions for P2 (Bilingual)
  • Monday 20th November 2023 4-5pm Q and A sessions for P2 (Bilingual)

Events will be listed on the Taith website Events – Taith over the next few weeks for people to register. 

ScoutsCymru – Chair of Trustees Vacancy

Posted on by Helen

We are looking for an inclusive leader, someone who sits comfortably working with an intergenerational group, with skills and experience of charity governance. It would be great if they have recent experience of chairing meetings and have a style that promotes curious, innovative, and future focussed thinking. We are not looking for experience in Scouting, but someone who shares a commitment to good governance and our passion for creating opportunities for young people to build skills and join the scouting adventure.

Chair-of-the-Board-Applicant-Information-Pack-002Download

Become Volunteers for the Young Persons Guarantee Youth Advisory Board with Young Wales

Posted on by Helen

Following our initial recruitment campaign in April, we are further inviting young people to register as Young Wales Volunteers for the Young Persons Guarantee Youth Advisory Board.
Board members will have the opportunity to: meet new friends and have fun. • Meet with Welsh Government Ministers.

• Gain new skills and training.

• Opportunities to attend annual and national events.

• Enhance you CV and/or UCAS application.

• Financial support to attend the meetings and residentials.


Please find attached further details for the Board. We would appreciate it if you could share with any colleagues or young people you work with who might be interested in signing up.

If you would like further information or if there are any other barriers for participation please get in touch with: volunteer@childreninwales.org.uk and we will be happy to explore how we might be able to support further.

Volunteer-Role-Young-Persons-Guarantee-Advisory-Board-Bilingual-15-Sept-2023Download


FULLY FUNDED Youth Workers – Award in Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice, Level 4

Posted on by Helen

Hello,

Are you interested in helping to grow and develop the Youth Work workforce in Wales?
Welsh Government is funding 6 places for professionally qualified Youth Workers to train as Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) in Wales by undertaking the: Award in Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice, Level 4.

This is a 1 year part-time programme, which will qualify you to understand and carry out assessment and internal quality assurance for Youth Support Worker qualifications and related accredited training.

For more information see flier attached and visit:
www.adultlearning.wales/en/about/our-courses/ywiqa

Email us at: youthwork@adultlearning.wales

What next?
Visit adultlearning.wales/about/ywiqa to:

  1. Complete an Expression of Interest form by midday 28.09.23 to attend an online Information Event on 05.10.23 at 2pm
    AND/OR
  2. Complete an Application Form by midday 12.10.23
YW-L4-Flier-ENG-22-08-23-RW-2Download

Bursary for leaders in the voluntary sector

Posted on by Helen

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to support a vital leader in the voluntary sector, giving them the capacity to grow, develop and increase their impact.

Bursary for leaders in the voluntary sector – WCVA

The Walter Dickie Leadership Bursary helps leaders in the voluntary sector to develop their leadership skills. Each year the bursary provides a ÂŁ2,500 grant to someone in a leadership role within a voluntary organisation in Wales.

The bursary is managed by our Social Investment Cymru team and is open for applications now until 2 October 2023.

WHAT WE’LL FUND

The parameters of how the bursary can be spent are open and applicants are encouraged to come up with interesting ideas to support their own development as a leader. Walter had a passion for travel and for learning, and WCVA wanted this bursary to reflect that. The money could for instance be used:

  • on a particular course of study
  • on funding a visit, possibly overseas, to see how others approach things, or
  • simply anything that the beneficiary feels will move them and their organisation forward

The only limits are in your imagination!

PREVIOUS GRANT RECIPIENTS

Since 2017 the bursary has funded:

  • A study visit to Copenhagen for lessons on sustainable transport
  • A community gardening learning exchange in Montreal
  • Network building and information sharing in the arts sector
  • Several leadership development courses such as the Enterprising Leaders course with Social Enterprise Academy Cymru
  • A game-changing trip to Hollywood for inclusive film charity, TAPE Community Music and Film

Read more about how people have made use of our leadership bursary.

FOLLOWING THE LEADERS

2022 winners Steve Swindon and Louise Miles-Payne have been recording a series of podcasts speaking with other bursary recipients about how they’ve been developing their leadership skills.

In the latest episode they spoke with our Head of Social Investment Cymru, Alun Jones ahead of the opening of the 2023 bursary.

https://soundcloud.com/tapemusicandfilm/following-the-leaders-episode-7-alun-jones?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Ftapemusicandfilm%252Ffollowing-the-leaders-episode-7-alun-jones

FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY

To find out more and make an application please visit our Walter Dickie Leadership Bursary page.

The deadline for applications is 2 October 2023.

CWVYS – Partnership to open new doors for Police Youth Volunteers in South Wales

Posted on by Helen

Picture caption: Outside Merthyr Bridewell with the Police Youth Volunteers, Merthyr Branch. 

Left to right: Alun Michael, South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Amanda Everson (CWVYS), Assistant Chief Constable Danny Richards, Paul Glaze (CWVYS Chief Exec) 

Right to left: Bronwen Williams, University of Wales Trinity St David, Grant Pointer, Boys and Girls Club Wales.  

Partnership to Open New Doors for Police Youth Volunteers in South Wales 

South Wales Police has partnered with the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS) to enhance the delivery of the force’s Police Youth Volunteers scheme and to open up new opportunities for young people. 

The four-year agreement is being funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner and marks an exciting new chapter for the Police Youth Volunteer scheme which was first launched by South Wales Police in 2014. 

The scheme has grown considerably since then – today there are over 100 volunteers aged between 14 and 17 based at eight hubs across South Wales and supported by local policing teams. 

The volunteers (often referred to as PYVs) are part of a police  youth group recognised throughout the UK. The scheme aims to inspire members to participate positively in their communities and encourages good citizenship and the spirit of adventure. Volunteers often take part in work which supports local policing priorities and learn skills that enhance their work in the community. 

CWVYS will work closely with its partners including the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Wales and their youth workers as well as Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) whose students from the youth and community and criminology and policing programmes will be volunteering as part of their programme placement. All will team up with existing PYV ‘Leaders’ – made up of PCSOs, police officers and police support volunteers – to deliver a bespoke programme. 

Working with the likes of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, St John Cymru and other youth work providers, activities will be based on the needs of PYVs themselves and will include access to a range of opportunities which will positively impact on their health, wellbeing, personal and social development and with support for PYVS’ education, training and employment prospects. 

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Alun Michael, said: “I am very pleased to announce this innovative partnership which enables us to build on the existing success of the scheme and take it to the next level. CWVYS has unrivalled experience of delivering quality youth work which will bring tremendous benefits for our many volunteers. Central to this will be the opportunity to complete stages in the Duke of Edinburgh Award which I know first-hand helps young people thrive and develop. Linking with the voluntary youth work sector in Wales and the two universities makes this a really exciting development.” 

Assistant Chief Constable Danny Richards, said: “The Police Youth Volunteer scheme provides opportunities for young people to develop an understanding of policing and public service. It encourages the development of personal and communication skills whilst encouraging good citizenship through engagement with local communities.” 

Paul Glaze, Chief Executive of CWVYS, said: “Along with our partners, we are delighted to be given the opportunity to work with the Police Youth Volunteers and Leaders across all of the vibrant Hubs in South Wales. We aim to support and to provide the best possible youth work-based programmes which meet the needs of all existing PYVs and those yet to join. We can’t wait to get started!”