This paper contains the results of part of a questionnaire survey carried out to determine if the maintained youth service in Wales is able to meet the requirements of government policy and the needs of young people while maintaining its specific organisational identity. Information obtained through the questionnaire was gathered and analysed between 2000 and 2002 a period of time affected in a number of significant ways by devolved government and the setting up of the National Assembly for Wales (1999). From this time the youth service has become subject to greater levels of scrutiny within a political agenda that gives significant attention to improving the contribution of all young people to the economic and social well being of Wales. This was a position reinforced by the conclusions and recommendations of Extending Entitlement (NafW 2000) which became the government’s flagship document for the promotion of services to young people.

The youth service and other organisations working with young people have a key role to play in their personal, social and health education. A needs assessment, however, carried out in Wales found that most youth organisations from both the maintained and voluntary sector have not formulated policies and practice to develop this work. Reasons for this are varied but include lack of clarity surrounding the role of the youth service and the legal implications of providing sexual health information and advice. The following pages contain ideas and suggestions for developing a sexual health policy and programme and factual information relating to the legal context for work in this complex area.

Helen Miller, Wales Youth Agency 2003

The Wales Youth Agency convened two seminars to explore the role of Town and Community Councils in developing services for young people and was enthused by the diversity of provision. It undertook to prepare this briefing document to disseminate information about developments and to enable other Councils to establish their own provision.

This paper is intended to provide an overview of the extent of youth homelessness in Wales; give an insight to the experience of homeless young people and importantly give some ideas of how the youth service can become involved in the development of provision and services.

It includes:
• Defining youth homelessness
• The extent and nature of youth homelessness in Wales
• Housing options for young people
• The role of the youth service
• Housing organisations in Wales

Exploration of the merits of the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) programme for the Youth Service in Wales.

Paper which provides a community profile of a group of young people living in a small South Wales valley community, taking into account statistical information and the views, hopes and aspirations of the young people and key adults.

Report on project to attract older teenage girls and address their concerns. Workshops on Health & Beauty, Family Planning, Rape and Self Defence, and Drugs and Alcohol Abuse were held.

Ways of involving young people in the Youth Service. Covers three broad strategies which have been developed to achieve participation by young people, namely: the Representation Model; the Interest/Issue Based Model; the Market Research Model.