Author: Helen

CWVYS members may be aware that there is a new Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, and that Youth Work sits within that portfolio.

Anna Brychan MS has been appointed, and you can find more about what else is included in the Minister’s portfolio here; https://www.gov.wales/anna-brychan-ms#204386

Our members Mess Up The Mess (MUTM) are looking to appoint a Treasurer and also a general Board Member to join their board of Trustees.

They’re an Award-Winning Youth Theatre based in Ammanford and the Amman Valley. Since 2005, MUTM has worked with some of the most vulnerable and isolated young people using theatre and the arts as powerful tools to engage and empower.

You can find all the details here;

Board Member – Role

Board Member ad – Eng

Treasurer – Role

If you would like to discuss this opportunity or have any questions about the role, email hello@messupthemess.co.uk.

If you have any vacancies of your own or other opportunities to promote, please send the details to me so I can share with the network

Writing reports is part of everyday work in many youth organisations – which it can also be time-consuming and repetitive.

In this AI Coffee Break, We’ll walk through a real-life example and show a practical workflow – from preparing your materials to generating and refining text. At the same time, we’ll reflect on what still requires human input and critical review.

No long lectures – just a practical example, open exchange and space for your questions. ☕
🔹 Third session: Using AI for Report Writing

🗓   May 21, 2026
⏰ 13:00–14:00 CET
💻 Online (Zoom) | Language: English

👉 Register here: https://forms.gle/QkbRRLSiKjBhFMhN8 (Link to the meeting will be sent to all registered participants shortly before the event)

This session is designed for youth workers, youth information workers, and anyone working with young people who would like a simple introduction to AI. No prior experience with AI is required.

The session will be recorded so participants can revisit the content later. You are welcome to keep your camera off if you prefer.

Best regards,

Sanja Barišić

On behalf of the entire AI youth work Navigators team

Find out more about the AI Youth Work Navigators project here; AI coffee break_ChatGPT in youth information work

A message from Urdd Gobaith Cymru

19 May – Urdd Gobaith Cymru Peace Message Day

For over a century, since 1922, Urdd Gobaith Cymru has created a Peace and Goodwill Message, sharing it with young people across the world. The purpose of the Message is to unite children and young people everywhere, inspiring them to take humanitarian action and to build positive international connections.

This year, the Urdd’s Message of Peace and Goodwill focuses on Minority Languages.

With over 7,000 languages across the world, and experts predicting that half of them will have disappeared by the end of the century, this clearly highlights the need for us to protect minority languages before they disappear forever.

The aim of the Message is to educate people around the world about these languages, and to encourage them to value, learn, and use them.

The words of the Message are available in multiple languages, along with an education pack by Dr Ianto Gruffydd on our website.

How to support the Message on 19 May:

• On the morning of 19 May, a video of the Message will be released on the Urdd social media platforms. Please share the video on your social media channels, and use #Heddwch2026 to unite the message across the world.

Read the Message on the Urdd website — available in several languages

Please help us spread the word about this important message.

Diolch yn fawr for your support

Peace speaks every language

#Heddwch2026 

Peace and Goodwill Message | Urdd Gobaith Cymru

heddwch@urdd.org

Please see below, an update from the Welsh Government’s Youth Engagement Branch regarding the Youth Work Excellence Awards 2025:

Annwyl bawb

I am writing to provide an update on our plans for the Youth Work Excellence Awards 2025.

Following the nomination period, which ran from June to November 2025, three judging panels met in March 2026 to agree on a shortlist of three finalists per award category. A huge thank you to the panel members for their invaluable help with this.

Judges had a difficult time shortlisting from a very strong field of nominations. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to submit a nomination to share stories of excellence and innovation from right across Wales.

In terms of next steps, profiles of each finalist will be published on the Youth Work Excellence Awards website and Welsh Government channels in June, culminating in the announcement of winners during Youth Work Week (23-30 June).

There will not be a traditional awards ceremony this year. I know this will come as disappointing news to some of you. However, we will be using alternative approaches to raise the profile of youth work to those outside the sector who may lack an appreciation of the breadth and impact of youth work on the lives of young people.

Thanks for your continued support on celebrating the very best examples of youth work in all corners of Wales.

Cofion cynnes,

Dyfan Evans
Youth Engagement Branch

Welsh Government

 

Here is the information on all RSBC’s upcoming events in Wales

The sign up links also contain further information on each of the events.

 

4 day residential, North Wales, from Monday 25 May:

Adventurous 4 day residential trip with RSBC to National Outdoor Centre for under 16’s · Luma

 

6 June – Blind Baseball family day Cardiff:

Blind Baseball ‘Give it a Go’ Family Day, Cardiff · Luma

 

14 June Climbing and Paddleboarding event in Snowdonia, North Wales:

Paddle Boarding and Climbing event with ClimbSnowdonia · Luma

 

4 Jul Blind Baseball family day, Carmarthen:

Blind Baseball ‘Give it a Go’ Family Day, Carmarthen · Luma

 

15 Aug Blind Baseball family day, Wrexham

Blind Baseball ‘Give it a Go’ Family Day, Wrexham · Luma

 

They are also going to be running 2 Goalball events in Carmarthen in July and August, dates etc will be coming out soon.

Brook Cymru offers free education and training to professionals and young people on the topics of Pornography and Misogyny.

Here you can find details of what they offer in more depth;

• Pornography and Misogyny Education for South Wales- english professionals.pdf
• Pornography and Misogyny Education for South Wales- english brochures

If you’d like to know more please get in touch with SouthWales.education@Brook.org.uk

Ensure you are following their Eventbrite to keep up with their opportunities.

The next free online training is on the topic of Pornography and Youth Produced Sexual Imagery on the 20th of May from 2.30 – 4.30pm, book *here*

The Electoral Commission is currently looking for organisations to maintain and facilitate a youth voice network from 2026-2030.

This is a funded project which will run from 22 June 2026 to 31 March 2027, with the possibility of an extension to March 2030. Organisations who are interested can find out more information here.  

Also, they are looking for support from youth groups to raise awareness of the upcoming elections in Wales which 16 year olds are eligible to vote in. More info on how you can get involved here and below; Voter Info – social media template posts – May 2026 – WALES updated (1)

Hi all,

I’m getting in touch directly to ask for your support in engaging with young people on social media in the run up to polling day next week. We recently undertook some social media listening research, and found two common misconceptions ahead of the Senedd election which were particularly prevalent amongst 16–24-year-olds:

• 59% believe voter ID is required
• 62% are uncertain about the closed list voting system

We are therefore encouraging our partners that work with young people in Wales to amplify voter information messaging ahead of polling day next Thursday. Some useful resources and social channels are listed below:

• Podcast created by Children in Wales
• Closed list system explainer video (raw files)
• Electoral Commission Wales TikTok channel
• Senedd Explained (TikTok and Instagram)
• Hansh Ddim Sbin (TikTok and Instagram)
• Template social media post copy (above)

If you would be interested in collaborating with us on any social media content, please get in touch.

Many thanks in advance for your support,

Ella

Ella Griffiths-Downing

Senior Communications Adviser

The Electoral Commission, Wales
07770 703688 | 029 2034 6824

electoralcommission.org.uk

🔎 Youth organisations from across the UK and Ireland have joined forces better to understand children’s and young people’s views.

Our initiative focuses on effectively capturing and amplifying their voices, ensuring their insights shape the policies that affect them.

🎤 Find out more and participate here; https://voicesforimpact.ai/

🎯 By doing this, we strive to advocate for increased investment in youth services, ensuring that young people’s voices are not just heard but are central to decision-making. This approach underscores young people’s proactive role as active and influential members of society.

💻 If you are a young person who wants to join the Wales Advisory Panel you can sign up by following the link here; https://tinyurl.com/mus8h263

An Update on the National Body for Youth Work in Wales 

• Representatives from across the voluntary and maintained sectors and others have been invited by the Cabinet Secretary for Education to join the National Body for Youth Work Delivery Board to work with Welsh Government on shaping and establishing this national body. The terms of reference for the Delivery Board membership details and, in due course, minutes from meetings are all available online (National Body for Youth Work Delivery Board | GOV.WALES).
• The meetings to date have focused on plans for engaging with practitioners and others across the sector, other sectors and organisations with an interest in securing the best outcomes for young people, as well as young people themselves to ensure everyone has an opportunity to share their views. The overall programme timeline has also been discussed as has setting up subgroups to progress key workstreams.
• No decision has yet been made on the role and remit of a national body, but the focus is on developing an organisation that supports and enables stronger collaboration, more innovative practice and builds capacity within the sector whilst not cutting across organisations’ own arrangements for the design and delivery of youth work – a key aspect of how youth work works. A proposed list of functions for the national body has been developed with Delivery Board members (Annex A). This list will be updated as further work is undertaken to refine the functions and consider in detail the alignment between the functions of the new body and other organisations.
• The current estimated timeline for establishing a national body for youth work is approximately 18-24 months. This timeframe allows for listening to views across the sector, building these views into decisions on the precise form and function of a national body, as well as getting the relevant governance and staffing arrangements in place to ensure the national body can deliver on its remit.
• Two subgroups – which are being tasked with looking in detail at issues in relation to governance and accountability, and finance and resources – have been established. We’re grateful for everyone who’s expressed an interest in joining these groups.
• The subgroups will operate in an advisory capacity to support the Delivery Board’s discussions by identifying short, practical options to feed into the ongoing development of a National Body for Youth Work.
• Each subgroup is being chaired by a Board member, and will meet regularly over the next few months to work at pace to explore agreed areas of focus. The work of the subgroups will inform subsequent Board discussions and the development of proposals for a formal public consultation planned for later in 2026.

 

Draft role and remit for National Body for Youth Work

• Provide strategic leadership to support the local delivery of youth work across voluntary organisations, local authorities and other partners across Wales.
• Facilitate collaboration across the youth work sector, promoting a joined-up and co-ordinated approach to the design and delivery of youth work in Wales.
• Support and advocate on behalf of the youth work sector, providing a single coherent voice on behalf of the sector in Wales.
• Undertake marketing and communication activity aimed at championing youth work within Wales and internationally, raising its profile and building a better understanding of its value within broader education and policy contexts, as well build an awareness of how organisations across the sector contribute to youth work in Wales.
• Undertake and commission research relating to youth work.
• Contribute to policy development both where it impacts youth work and where youth work can contribute to other policy aims.
• Act as a hub for sharing best practice among those involved in the design and delivery of youth work in Wales.
• Co-ordinate a cross-sector workforce development programme, including a training and accreditation framework.
• Raise awareness, within the sector and beyond, of any changes which may impact on the design and delivery of youth work in Wales, including supporting the implementation of the statutory framework for youth work (currently in draft form).
• Support innovation and the continuous improvement of youth work in Wales, including supporting programmes such as the Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales
• Strengthen the Welsh-medium youth work offer for young people in Wales by supporting existing provision and developing new opportunities, approaches and partnerships
• Support and champion youth work’s role in challenging discriminatory attitudes and behaviours within society, as well as taking action to help ensure all young people, regardless of background or circumstance, can access youth work.
• Co-ordinate specific initiatives and projects, which could include a youth information exchange and a Young Person’s Entitlement Scheme.

 

Following the closure of Challenge Wales in Oct 25, The Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) have taken over the brilliant Challenge72 Challenge Wales, now known as Challenger 5.

As part of her move to TSYT, we have committed to continue the great work of Challenge Wales, supporting young people across Wales!

To develop this, we have received £40k of funding to directly support young people in Wales to develop their sailing and teamwork skills on a TSYT voyage.

The 40k funding covers young people across Wales that would like to join any of the voyages listed in the link below:
Book as an individual on one of our Wales voyages: https://tallships.org/voyages/?_sft_voyage_type=wales-regional-hub-voyages

Alternatively, we can also taylor a voyage if they would like to charter a whole boat as a group (youth groups, schools, organisations).
They can get in touch with us by emailing info@tallships.org.

As previously mentioned, funding is available and if needed, they can apply using the link below:
https://tallships.org/bursary-application/

Find out more here; UK Youth Poll 2026 – John Smith Centre