CWVYS Regional Social ZOOM Meetings will be held every fortnight for voluntary youth work organisations. During this unprecedented COVID-19 period, we believe it is important to reach out, connect and support our members.
We are providing a supportive space for the sector to: –
keep in touch with each other
support and share knowledge and information
communicate to others the concerns and issues from the sector
and a bit of fun
Contact Catrin James catrin@cwvys.org.uk to receive the joining details to join the meeting in your region: –
Central South and South East Wales – 16/4/20 – 10am to 11am
The Voluntary Services Emergency Fund is for voluntary organisations with costs associated with the increase in volunteering activities and adapting service needs in response to Coronavirus. Details are here: https://wcva.cymru/funding/volunteering-wales-grants-scheme/
The Cranfield Trust is offering support to charities in this difficult time. Whether you’d like a phone call to talk through your problems and challenges generally, or specific advice on finance, HR or other management topics, their 1,200 volunteers – management professionals – are ready and waiting to provide support. You can get in touch – either via their website form, by emailing admin@cranfieldtrust.org or by calling 01794 830338 – and they’ll do their best to find the right help for you.
It has been announced on the European Commission’s DiscoverEU webpage that DiscoverEU is postponed until further notice.
We will share information as it becomes available.
If you have already been awarded a DiscoverEU pass, and have questions about travelling, you will need to contact the scheme organiser. If you are concerned about COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we recommend referring to UK Foreign Office advice.
I’m writing to let you know that CWVYS is calling a moratorium on Membership fees for the 2020/21 financial year.
Existing Memberships will be automatically renewed as of 1 April 2020 for the usual 12-month period but we will not be seeking payment from you.
Should any Member organisations wish to voluntarily pay their fees, that would of course be appreciated. However, we will not be chasing those monies.
I realise that in the great scheme of things at such a difficult time for you, this is a relatively small gesture – but hope it goes some way to reducing pressures on hugely-stretched budgets.
Take care out there.
Best wishes Paul
Paul Glaze |Chief Executive CWVYS|Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services
Covid-19 and Role of CWVYS and the Voluntary Youth Work sector
The youth work sector has a key role to play in supporting young people, and also as part of the overall response, in Wales to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The voluntary youth work sector in Wales has a vitally important role to play in supporting young people, and also in part of the overall response, in Wales to the Covid-19 outbreak.
CWVYS is aware that you are working hard to support those organisations currently in receipt of funds and with those who are in the middle of, or embarking upon, writing applications for financial support. This is much appreciated.
This week, I met with the Minister for Education to discuss ways in which this support might manifest itself in practical terms. In addition, CWVYS Trustees met yesterday and were keen to indicate their full support for current initiatives but also to highlight certain issues and potential solutions relating to Covid-19, which I would like to bring to your attention:
The welfare of young people is paramount and that this is uppermost in their collective minds. Many of our Member organisations deal with the most vulnerable young people experiencing mental health and emotional wellbeing issues, amongst many others, and are seriously concerned about service disruption at such a critical time
There is an urgent call to Funders to be sympathetic to the needs of organisations, provide as much flexibility as possible to ensure that no voluntary sector youth work organisation is adversely affected by a loss of revenue (without which they would be unable to deliver vital services and will ultimately be forced to permanently shut down) and to release funding even more quickly than normal
CWVYS and our Member organisations stand ready to work towards providing the necessary solutions in support of the measures being taken during this time.
Please let me know how, when and where we might be able to work together.
CWVYS is maintaining regular contact with the First Minister of Wales and with the Minister for Education. I am also copying this letter to Keith Towler, Chair of the Interim Youth Work Board.
Covid-19 and Role of CWVYS and the Voluntary Youth Work sector
The youth work sector has a key role to play in supporting young people, and also as part of the overall response, in Wales to the Covid-19 outbreak.
This statement provides an update on recent CWVYS activity and the steps being taken in support of you, your organisations and young people.
CWVYS met with the Minister for Education on 17 March to discuss the challenges and solutions which have been suggested by our Members in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Today, we have written separately to the Minister for Education and to the First Minister of Wales in order to re-iterate those messages.
In addition, CWVYS Trustees met yesterday at their Executive Committee meeting. Trustees were keen to indicate their support for current initiatives but highlighted concerns as well as potential opportunities:
The welfare of young people is paramount and that this is uppermost in their collective minds. Many Member organisations work with the most vulnerable young people experiencing mental health and emotional wellbeing issues, amongst many others, and are seriously concerned about service disruption at such a critical time
Potential solutions include the use of digital networks operated by paid and unpaid practitioners and drawing upon the expertise of Members such as ProMo Cymru and Swansea MAD (amongst others); more effective communication of messages plus the publicising of services such as Meic; mobilisation of young people in response to the needs of local communities; access to information in support of those in need of free school meals, food bank facilities; young people who are homeless and detached youth work responses
Other possible areas to consider include: a pooling of resources within the whole sector on a collaborative basis; ‘cluster’ groups of practitioners to lead/support groups of young people in youth and community centres, church halls etc which remain open and/or schools post 20 March; the waiving of payments for hire of venues; linking older people with young people via landlines and/or mobiles and/or digital means
Funders need to be sympathetic to the needs of organisations, provide as much flexibility as possible to ensure that no voluntary sector youth work organisation is adversely affected by a loss of revenue (without which they would be unable to deliver vital services and will ultimately be forced to permanently shut down) and to release funding much more quickly
We have also written to WCVA with a similar request regarding funding streams which it operates on behalf of the wider voluntary sector in Wales.
A call for an urgent re-think of the criteria attached to the Youth Support Grant for 2020/21 and a possible new allocation of this resource across the whole sector, as opposed to the current system of funding local authority youth services. This would enable voluntary sector youth work organisations to quickly design, develop and deliver vital services for young people, especially those who are most vulnerable and to meet emergency needs
CWVYS has today written to the Leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, to highlight this issue whilst emphasising our desire, and that of the voluntary youth work sector, to work with the WLGA and local authority youth services in support of young people.
CWVYS and our Member organisations stand ready to work towards providing the necessary solutions in support of the measures required during this time.
A copy of this Statement will be sent to Keith Towler, Chair of the Interim Youth Work Board plus colleagues in the Welsh Government Youth Engagement Team, Principal Youth Officers’ Group, Welsh Local Government Association, ETS Cymru and the Education Workforce Council.
It’s obviously a hugely concerning time for you all, the issues you are currently facing and those yet to occur. The focus at the moment is how to try and navigate a best way forward whilst supporting you as best we can in these circumstances.
The general view from those with whom I have spoken is mixed: individual organisations will need to make their own decisions as to whether they will continue for a specific period of time or simply close. Some will carry on for as long as possible because they offer specialist services.
As such, there is no ‘one size fits all’ advice on provision for the sector as yet. However, we will continue to forward the latest guidance from the WG Education department to everyone by e-mail and social media. I’d suggest that you read and distribute that information to your colleagues and keep looking out for further notices as things develop. In addition, Public Health Wales is issuing daily updates across a range of media.
The unprecedented nature of the situation and how it is changing every hour or so means that there is rapid movement in all advice and guidance. Stay tuned and we’ll aim to get messages out as and when we can. CWVYS has had to vacate Baltic House and staff are now working from home. Whilst we will still be contactable, this is also having an impact on our own operations, so please bear with us!
I’m aware that local authorities are making independent judgement calls on their youth service provision across all 22 areas. My current information is that most, if not all, have already closed or will start to close their doors very soon.
Online provision is perhaps one part of the overall response, so that young people, can still maintain contact and access to practitioners and vice-versa. Claire Cunliffe (CWVYS Chair) and I met with the Minister for Education on Tuesday to discuss how youth work can support the wider education sector during this crisis.
If any statements arise from this and other meetings, I’ll let everyone know. However, the Minister was very clear on her understanding of youth work and her gratitude toward practitioners in providing such vital services. Our response to that was a very positive one but we also outlined a need for leadership, resource and effective communication.
The CWVYS Executive Committee (Trustee Board) Met remotely yesterday and discussed a wide range of issues. I will update you on those developments shortly.
CWVYS will continue to operate strategically and has signed up to a joint-sector approach with a range of partners, including the Welsh Government, the PYOG and WLGA amongst others.
We will, of course, keep you informed on any relevant developments and further messages.
Eurodesk UK have launched a Call to join them in promoting international opportunities to young people.
They want to hear from individuals with experience in the youth sector, who are passionate about working, studying or volunteering abroad, to sign up as a Eurodesk UK Ambassador.
The Eurodesk network covers 36 countries and more than 1100 information points, so it is a great way to build links. Other benefits include promotion on the website and social media; invitation to seminars and training; online support; and supplies of promotional materials.
To apply, there is a short form to complete, and the deadline is 6 April 2020.
The Conference was intended to pay tribute to the value of youth work practitioners – those paid and unpaid experts in the field who deliver absolutely vital work day in, day out on behalf of and with young people across the whole of Wales.
But practitioners aren’t just for Conferences…they’re every day, forever.
Practitioners need to be supported
It’s one thing to say we treasure them but practitioners need support in many ways to enable them to carry out their roles to the best of their abilities.
From investing in workforce development equitably across the whole sector to ensuring access to learning opportunities and reflective practice to their emotional wellbeing and mental health to celebrating their immensely positive impact on young people and their communities of Wales to having their voices heard and acted upon, practitioners deserve to be supported.
Working together creates positive results
It was wonderful to see so many non-youth work stallholders enjoyably engaged in learning about youth work and for our sector to find out more about the myriad opportunities which exist ‘out there’
Potential partnerships abound
Building on last year’s significant investment, the Minister again identified £10M in the budget for 2020/21 Youth Support Grant, which is hugely welcome and provides a real platform for meaningful partnerships
Clearly, the challenge now is for the whole sector to deliver a truly collaborative programme of youth work services which meets the needs of young people across Wales.
Momentum is key
It is really important to acknowledge the incredible pace and intelligence at which the members of the Interim Youth Work Board, Welsh Government officials and the sector has been working to establish the Youth Work Strategy for Wales and its subsequent implementation.
As it builds, the momentum needs to ensure that it doesn’t leave in its slipstream those parts of the sector which are unable to engage as readily as it would like due to a lack of capacity, time, resources or knowledge. It’s critical that the whole sector moves forward together and doesn’t leave anyone behind.
It’s good to talk! (and to listen)
Keith Towler, Kirsty Williams, Workshops, Professional Practice Talks, World Café…Empowering…Expressive…Inclusive…Participative…Educative
Wonderful to witness 360 people talking, listening and thinking about youth work. The talents, abilities and camaraderie on display were a sight to behold.
The Education Workforce Council (EWC), in partnership with ETS Wales, has been commissioned by the Welsh Government to deliver and develop the nationally recognised Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales until January 2023.
The Quality Mark badge of excellence assures young people, their parents, guardians, funders, partner organisations and other organisations of high quality youth work provision.
Hayden Llewellyn, EWC Chief Executive said: “In Wales, we are undergoing a period of major education reform, and high quality youth work provision plays a crucial role in this.
“We look forward to developing the Quality Mark alongside ETS Wales and other partners to ensure this provision delivers the appropriate support to young people in Wales to improve their life chances.”
Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams AM said: “The Quality Mark is an important tool to help youth work organisations really raise the bar for the important work they do.
“I look forward to seeing the new contract build on the momentum of the successful Quality Mark and ensure this reflects the vision set out in our Youth Work Strategy for Wales.”
ETS Wales Chair, Steve Drowley added: “The Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales is one of the key foundations of good quality work with young people.
“We’re delighted to be part of the process for ensuring young people have a voice, are properly supported by well trained and qualified youth workers, and benefit from a wide range of opportunities through voluntary and maintained youth work services.”
Since 2015, 17 youth work organisations in Wales have achieved the Quality Mark. As the new awarding body the EWC will work with these organisations and the sector as a whole to develop and grow the Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales.
