Passing of Alan Higgins OBE OStJ

CWVYS is very sorry to learn of the sad news concerning the passing of Alan Higgins OBE OStJ in November 2024.

Alan was, among many other things, a CWVYS Vice-President for several years and spoke passionately at CWVYS’s 70th anniversary celebrations at the Senedd in 2017. We will cherish our working with him over the years, his commitment to improving the lives of young people in our communities was admirable.

We would like to share the words of our Vice President Prof Howard Williamson CVO CBE FRSA FHEA as he remembers Alan;

Alan Higgins Remembered                                                                                              

For many who knew him, they will remember a middle-aged man in a grey suit, with a tight mop of grey hair. A man who was always both affable and slightly aloof, driving a posh car and occasionally wielding his red pen in his left hand with the authority of a traditional school teacher.

I knew him in that way, too, but much more besides. Alan Higgins OBE (Other Buggers’ Efforts, he used to quip), OSt.J (which often required explanation – Order of St. John – though he didn’t use it much), had a dry sense of humour, a genuine interest in the views, work and contribution of others, and an absolute commitment to the recognition and quality development of youth work, long before that became almost a broken record mantra throughout Europe.

I first met Alan in the late 1970s. Not long afterwards he was crafting and drafting the Welsh equivalent of the Thompson Report (Experience and Participation), which he discussed at length with me. Alan, the HMI (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate, later Estyn) for the youth service in Wales, wrote HMI Education Survey 13, published in 1984. By that time, he had also supported my appointment, through something called the DES Experimental Project Scheme, to evaluate the Ely Youth and Community Project. I had lived in Ely during the 1970s and returned there for that job. The publication from that project, Strategies for Intervention, is sometimes considered to be the precursor to the landmark Welsh Government youth policy Extending Entitlement. Alan’s hand (or red pen) was evidently behind the latter.

Years later, when I myself had acquired some level of recognition through youth work, the annual Christmas card from Alan always had a lengthy handwritten note singing my praises. I think he saw me as something of his protégé. He had tested me, perhaps been checking me out, when he was preparing Survey 13 and, by 1985 (International Youth Year) was recommending me to chair a new HIV/substance prevention youth participation project, Youthlink Wales. A teenage Sharon Lovell was, alongside Alan, one of the people on the management committee!

I suspect – I don’t know for sure – that Alan also recommended me to chair the Wales Youth Work Partnership later in the 1980s and then to become the Vice-Chair of the Wales Youth Agency in 1992, which I served throughout its existence. And Alan was always there, either independently or in his HMI role. Indeed, regardless of his formal position in any group or event, he was always seen to be the HMI, producing though not demanding deference and distance, one remove from the cut and thrust of youth work policy and practice in Wales, but always both overseeing and watching over what was going on. He was involved in so many ways. CWVYS will remember him as a long-standing Vice-President.

Alan was quite worried about retirement. I told him that, yes, he would lose his status but not the respect with which he was held in the field. He continued to turn up to events – in an elder statesman role. I would go to see him and chew the cud, having lunch at The Captain’s Wife in Sully, when he was always keen to catch up with youth work developments in Wales. He moved proudly into his 80s, still involved in community events in Penarth. Then he lost his beloved wife Margaret and he had a stroke. My last attempt at a conversation with him was when he himself could hardly speak. But he tried all the same and his courtesy and curiosity still shone through. He passed away on November 14th last year. That is also my son’s birthday and, for that reason, I will certainly remember Alan forever. I am deeply indebted to him for the support and motivation he gave to me and such a tribute no doubt resonates with many others who knew him, too.

More learners to receive financial support through Education Maintenance Allowance

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a weekly grant of £40, designed to support 16 to 18-year-olds from eligible households with further education costs, such as transport or meals. EMA was ended in England in 2011, and is retained at a lower rate of £30 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Currently over 16,000 students receive EMA but starting from the new academic year in September an estimated 3,500 more learners will benefit from the uplift.

The threshold for households with one dependent child is currently £20,817 and this will increase to £23,400, meaning families with a household income of £23,400 or less will be eligible to receive EMA.

The threshold for households with two or more dependents is currently £23,077 and this will increase to £25,974, meaning families with a household income of £25,974 or less will be eligible to receive EMA.

Minister Further and Higher Education, Vikki Howells, said:

 “Wales already delivers the most generous Education Maintenance Allowance in the UK, helping post-16 learners to continue studying academic or vocational courses, and this change means we will now be supporting thousands more learners.

We are very proud of our record in maintaining and increasing the Education Maintenance Allowance. We are clear that our Draft Budget is a budget for a brighter future and the uplift to EMA eligibility is one of the ways we are delivering this. The announcement means thousands more learners will now benefit from further financial support to continue or start their further education journey.

RSBC Eye connect project – making youth work more inclusive for blind and partially sighted children and young people

CWVYS are working in partnership with the Royal Society of Blind Children to share knowledge and upskill all those working with young people whatever their setting.  A recent survey highlighted a serious lack of local and accessible activities for visually impaired young people and we want to close that gap as part of our role and responsibilities.

 

Project ‘Eye Connect’ delivers an enhanced free training session to enable more visually impaired young people to engage and participate in mainstream activities – these could be face to face or online and offers practical guidance on delivering a variety of interests from specialist providers.

 

On completing the training, you are also eligible to apply for a kitemark to verify and promote your services as VI friendly!  And you will be included in a directory of services for families and young people to identify a plethora of interests and opportunities in their area.

 

Please find the introductory details by clicking on the link below and register to undertake this important training.

 

Digital Flyer- Free Training-Making Your Activities Inclusive Jan 2025 Making your activities inclusive – free training

 

Plan International UK Period Peers Programme

Please see below a message from CWVYS Members Plan International UK

Plan International UK has an exciting opportunity for an organisation(s) to join our Period Peers Programme in partnership with Nurofen’s See My Pain Campaign.

We are looking to collaborate with an organisation(s) which empowers young people to take a leading role in solutions to issues that affect their lives. We are looking to fund an organisation that is passionate about smashing the taboo and stigma of periods, so that girls and young people can be confident when it comes to their periods.

Organisations can apply for either £5000 or £10,000 to deliver the Period Peers Programme which aims to recruit 14-24 years olds to become Period Proud Peers. The Period Proud Peers will coordinate menstrual health related activities which build young people’s knowledge and confidence in managing their periods, reduce the stigma and encourage young people to seek help should they need it. Period Proud Peers will have a handbook with example activities and information to support them in their role, which has been co-created with Period Peers in our pilot programme.

Please see this ToR document for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact Lizzy Brothers at periodpeers@plan-uk.org

 

Walk Through Estyn Youth Work Inspections

Gavin Gibbs from Estyn will be holding an online ’Walk Through Estyn Youth Work Inspections’ session on 30 January 2025, between 10.30-11.30am via Teams.

This is an opportunity to hear directly from Estyn, information on ‘How We Inspect’ and ‘What We Inspect’ plus the inspection process itself for the voluntary youth work sector – and also for you to ask questions about this work.

If you are interested in attending, please let catrin@cwvys.org.uk know by e-mail and by no later than 27 January.

You will subsequently receive more information plus the joining details.

JOB VACANCY – COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (MATERNITY COVER)

CWVYS currently have a vacancy for a Bilingual (Welsh and English) Communications Officer (part-time, Maternity Cover for 1 year)

Hours of work:                                24 per week

Length of contract:                        1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026                                                     

Salary:                                                £28,624 pro rata (£18,567 actual)

Accountability:                                to CWVYS Chief Executive

Place of work:                                  Home-based

 

CWVYS is seeking to recruit a part-time Communications Officer, to cover maternity leave of the current postholder.

We are looking for a bilingual (Welsh and English languages), creative and skilled person who will support the communications needs of the voluntary youth work services sector in Wales.

Applicants are invited to register initial interest in this position by e-mailing paul@cwvys.org.uk  A copy of the job description/person specification and application form will then be e-mailed in return.

When completing the application form, candidates will be expected to prove how their experience and skills match the requirements of the role as outlined in the job description and person specification.

Closing time/date for receipt of applications is 10.00am on February 10th 2025.

Applicants selected for interview will be informed of the relevant process in due course.

Thank you for your interest.