Author: Helen

The link to the final report of Lizzy Bacon’s thesis on the mapping of the voluntary youth work sector in Wales is here: https://criminology.research.southwales.ac.uk/news/2021/new-project-map-and-evaluate-voluntary-youth-work-sector-wales/

We hope that you will enjoy reading this in-depth, comprehensive and important piece of research.  

As you will know, Estyn intends to inspect youth work provision in earnest during 2024.

CWVYS sits on the Estyn Youth Work Stakeholder Group. 

In preparation for the full round of inspections from autumn 2024, Estyn will be engaged in a range of pilot inspections.

Key points for pilots

• The Vale of Glamorgan local authority will be the first to be inspected during the week beginning 19 February 2024
• A voluntary youth work organisation will also be inspected before the end of March 2024. As yet, no decision or announcement has been made as to which organisation
• The documents attached are guidance received so far from Estyn; these will be reviewed following the pilot inspections plus feedback from CWVYS and the Principal Youth Officers’ Group
• There will be a call for Peer Inspectors from the field. Once we have received further details, we will share them with you
• CWVYS have pressed Estyn to produce specific guidance/criteria for the scope of inspections for the voluntary youth work sector
• We understand that Estyn is preparing a Communications Strategy for the roll-out of inspections following the 2 pilots.

The 2 documents attached are:

• How we inspect youth work, which covers the processes of the inspection
• What we inspect in youth work, cover the areas that will be inspected

Please note these are draft documents and are subject to change following the feedback from the pilot inspections and the field. 

We felt that it was important to provide you with an update, as a number of CWVYS Members will be drawn into the inspection within the Vale of Glamorgan.

The Children, Young People and Education Committee is conducting an inquiry into Children and Young People on the Margins, which in summary relates to missing children and those vulnerable to criminal exploitation.

This inquiry follows on from the Committee’s report into radical change for care experienced children. From the evidence received, children are estimated to make up almost 40% of children who go missing in Wales. Also, it has been reported that specific groups thought to be at risk of being ‘criminalised’ include care experienced children, unaccompanied asylum seeker-children and young people educated otherwise than at school, black and minority ethnic children and young people.

This inquiry will focus primarily on:
• Missing children.
• Children and young people who are victims of criminal exploitation.

We will also focus on identifying other groups of children identified as being “on the margins,” as a potential focus of future scrutiny sessions. These would be groups of children in circumstances that require a very specific response from children’s services or other statutory providers and for which there are concerns about the current policy or practice response.

For more information on the inquiry and to see the full terms of reference, please visit the inquiry webpage.

How to share your views
The Committee has launched a consultation, further information on how to submit is available on the consultation page. The Closing date is Thursday 28 March.

SeneddChildren@senedd.wales

@SeneddChildren

ETS Cymru Wales are excited to launch its training programme for 2023 / 2024 by offering two exciting courses:

• Supervision in the Youth Work Context (Level 3 Accredited Course)
• Neurodiversity Training (a series of workshops)

If you would like more information or to secure a space, follow this link: http://tinyurl.com/tktcn35z

Please keep an eye on the ETS Cymru Wales Eventbrite and Social Media Page as more Training will follow shortly.

If you’re not able to attend the Youth Work Excellence Awards in person, we have the option to join via a livestream on Youtube.

If you’re interested in hosting a watch party for the event, please fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch!

Os na allwch fynychu’r Gwobrau Rhagoriaeth Gwaith Ieuenctid yn bersonol, mae gennym yr opsiwn i ymuno trwy ffrwd fyw ar Youtube.

Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn cynnal parti gwylio ar gyfer y digwyddiad, llenwch y ffurflen isod a byddwn mewn cysylltiad!

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Name / Enw *

Email / E-bost *

Message / Neges

Submit / Anfon

This webinar is presented by the Young People are Thriving Implementation Participation Group, one of five groups established to support the work of the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board.

One of the key recommendations within the ‘Time to deliver for young people in Wales’ report was “to establish a young people led governance structure for youth work in Wales”. We want to better understand the good things that are happening across Wales and help inform how this recommendation, and other aspects of our work, are developed.

In this webinar, we will share some of the work happening at a national level, much of which is new and emerging. We will discuss the vital principles and next steps to ensure a youth-led governance structure that enables young people to shape youth work services in Wales.

We want young people to have meaningful involvement at all stages of decision making which will affect them. Examples of best practice will be shared during the webinar, and we want to gather further evidence to feed into our work to strengthen the legislative basis for youth work. Information gathered as part of this session will also be incorporated into the scoping work for a potential national body for youth work, where we want to ensure young people are not just involved but would have specific roles to play.
Presenters include:

• David Williams, Torfaen Youth Service – Chair of the Young People are Thriving IPG
• Sharon Lovell – Chair of the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board
• Dyfan Evans, Welsh Government
• Merthyr Youth Advisory Panel: Snakes ‘n’Ladders – The Other Pandemic
• Rebekah Burns, St John Ambulance
• Victoria Allen, Welsh Government
  The second part of the webinar will include break-out workshops where we will discuss the following:
• What does good and bad Youth Governance look like to you?
• What can we learn from previous good practice that may not be currently happening?
• What examples of youth governance do we have now?
• What key guiding principles do we want to embed, and how?
• What are some of the potential barriers?

We welcome those involved in youth work in Wales who are interested in learning more and contributing to this discussion. Sign up free today on this link: https://lu.ma/90zduzu5

Meet Adult Learning Wales! | Cyfarfod Addysg Oedolion Cymru!

• Want to know more about youth work training? 
• More about Continuous Professional Development (CPD), Tutoring and a whole load of other learning opportunities? 
• Have any questions about how to access all of the above and more?

 Then you’re invited to meet Adult Learning Wales/Addysg Oedolion Cymru at an hour-long online session on 23 January, starting at 12noon.

To book a place and to receive joining details, contact paul@cwvys.org.uk ASAP

This is currently available FREE OF CHARGE!

The application form is accessed via the button link on the brochures.

There are copies of the application form available in Welsh from uswcommercial@southwales.ac.uk – the link via the brochure may be defaulting to the English version currently. We apologise for this technical issue, which we hope will shortly be rectified.

In the light of this, if you have any problems with the process, applications will be accepted up to Friday 19th January.

Any issues, please e-mail uswcommercial@southwales.ac.uk directly.

This is a programme of leadership and management based on a previously successful model, but which has now been co-designed with representatives from the youth work sector and contextualized to bring it up to date and to suit the needs of current youth work leaders and managers in Wales.

It will take you on a journey of learning about yourself as a leader in the provision of services for young people. The programme is supported by ETS Wales, the WLGA, CWVYS, the Wales Principal Youth Officers Group, TAG Cymru (youth work training providers at HE and FE level) and funded by the Welsh Government. This programme is endorsed by the National Academy for Educational Leadership (NAEL)

As you might be aware, the Welsh Government has commissioned a team of researchers from Welsh universities to carry out a Funding Review.

This is a critical piece of work and is based upon one of the 14 recommendations being worked upon by the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board.

It is essential that the voice of the voluntary youth work sector is heard in this process, as evidence provided now will inform how and where funding can support the sector more effectively in the future.

Please complete the survey by the closing date of 12 January 2024:

https://wgu.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/arolwg-cyfranogiad-sector-gwirfoddol-2

https://wgu.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/voluntary-sector-participant-survey

Adoption UK currently have a number of jobs available to apply for. Please take a look at their current vacancies – Jobs | Adoption UK Charity

Today the Minister for Education and Welsh Language has set out the next steps to develop the Interim Youth Work Board’s recommendations aimed at achieving a sustainable delivery model for youth work in Wales. You can read more here.

Be part of the conversation

Thank you to everyone who has fed into this work to date. The collaborative approach adopted to inform the development of this work will continue to be vital during this next phase, under the advice of the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board and its Implementation Participation Groups, as well as other partners.

A series of ‘drop in’ Empower Hour sessions for youth workers and youth support workers began on 11 December. These have covered a range of themes, including a rights-based approach, youth work definitions and functions, and leadership and partnerships. This engagement will continue in the new year, with opportunities for individuals across the youth work sector and beyond to be part of the conversation. Further details will be shared soon.