MA Dissertation.

The purpose of the study was to determine the level of voluntary sector service provision for children, young people and families in South East Newport and to seek to identify any gaps in that provision. The study was undertaken as an internship within the Families First programme in Newport supported by the One Newport Local Service Board (LSB). The results will inform the LSB’s Neighbourhood Working Model.

Therefore this study, which is limited to provision relating only to children, young people and families in the geographical area of South East Newport (comprising the wards of Alway, Ringland and Lliswerry) presents the findings of an audit of voluntary sector provision within those limitations.

In order to address the key objectives of the research a combination of surveys, semi-structured interviews and focus groups was conducted between June and October 2013. Questionnaires were administered to two groups: service providers and residents in the pilot area. Three focus groups were conducted with adults, whilst 20 focus groups were conducted with 189 children and young people between the ages of 4 and 15 years from schools across the pilot area. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults at Summer Fun Day events.

It was concluded that a substantial level of service provision already exists in the pilot area, but that there are gaps in provision and barriers to access which need to be addressed. Despite this, enthusiasm to participate was high and should be encouraged. There could be merit in exploring the potential of the themes which emerged in an attempt to nurture this interest in engagement. The study confirms the need to increase the range and level of service provision in South East Newport and that children, young people and families would benefit from improvements and enhancements to existing services. 

Autumn 2015 paper from the Principal Youth Officers' Group (PYOG) on the role of youth work in the current policy environment in Wales.

This paper, prepared by a UK-wide alliance of representative youth work bodies, sets out the basis for a fully developed and properly resourced youth policy which the country needs now.

       

 

Short paper discussing some of the characteristics which contribute towards young people having an enjoyable, challenging experience from which they can learn through the process of working with a reflective, effective practitioner.

The discussion group included teaching staff and students of the BA Youth and Community Work Programme at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. The group took part in a Socratic dialogue on the topic ‘what is excellent Youth Work’, deciding to explore a residential project which has taken place a number of years before.  The group explored questions about the project for two hours and the paper is an interpretation of notes taken at the time of the discussion. 

Between 2009-2011 CWVYS was commissioned by the Welsh Government to facilitate the research and publishing of Youth Work Methodology Handbooks or best practice guides for youth workers in Wales. CWVYS facilitated this work by bringing together voluntary youth organisations and maintained local authority youth services. This document is part of a library of Good Practice Methodology Handbooks for Youth Work in Wales. 

This handbook has been developed to introduce, explain or expand on existing knowledge and experience in relation to delivering youth work in schools.

In seeking to meet the outcomes for young people focussed upon in the Youth Work Curriculum Statement for Wales and the National Youth Service Strategy for Wales, this document encourages consideration of how best to ensure young people across Wales have opportunities to engage with non-formal learning within the school environment. The National Assembly for Wales has in recent years emphasised the need for Community Focused Schools. “A community focused school is one that provides a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community”. Whilst recognizing the scope for youth services to play a key role in Community Focused Schools during the evening and holidays and reaching a wider population of young people, this handbook will consider youth work provision during school time and will focus mainly on engaging disaffected young people.

[CWVYS does not represent that the information contained in the handbook is accurate, comprehensive, verified or complete, and shall accept no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this website or for any reliance placed by any person on the information.] 

 

 

 

CWVYS &Promo Cymru 2008

This paper seeks specifically to identify the broader Welsh Government (WG) policies and demonstrate where and how youth work does/can make a significant contribution to the achievement of those policies by improving the life chances of young people aged 11-25. It is not the purpose of this paper to identify new areas or scope of operation for youth work, but to highlight the role it currently undertakes, as a specific form of work with young people, in contributing to and complementing WG policy.

The strands that make up Programme for Government consist of the following:

• Growth and Sustainable Jobs
• Public Services
• 21st Century Healthcare
• Education
• Supporting People
• Welsh Homes
• Safer Communities
• Equality
• Tackling Poverty
• Rural Communities
• Environment & Sustainability
• Culture & Heritage of Wales 

This paper seeks to provide a conceptual framework for answering two questions raised by the Welsh Government: what does the Welsh Government get for the funding it provides for the youth service (statutory and voluntary) and to what extent does the use of that funding help to achieve key objectives such as reductions in the number of young people not in education, training or employment. 

This strategy sets the direction for youth work organisations for the next four years and builds on a consultation exercise undertaken in 2013. The strategy recognises the value and role of open-access youth work provision; promotes a stronger connection between youth work provision and formal education; identifies the need for closer working between statutory and voluntary youth work organisations; and identifies the need to significantly strengthen the evidence base on the impact of youth work across Wales. The Welsh Government, national and local voluntary organisations, as well as local authorities, will need to work together to successfully implement the identified actions and drive youth work forward.