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.

Howard Williamson, Wales Youth Agency 2004

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

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 will establish the case that an adequately resourced youth service, able to adopt a range of approaches, is of inherent benefit to society.  Youth work is able to offer positive experiences which address the needs and aspirations of young people and enable them to develop as responsible citizens, able to make positive contributions to their communities.

Whilst the primary purpose of youth work has never been crime prevention it has an important contribution to make to this process.  This paper will refer to recent report from the Princes Trust, based on research undertaken by Coopers and Lybrand, which demonstrates the relationship between youth work and youth crime prevention. (Coopers and Lybrand: ‘Preventative Strategy for Young People in Trouble’ 1994)

National Occupational Standards 2002 for Youth Work in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Youth Work National Occupational Standards (NOS) aim to define the competencies required to carry out the functions carried out by the youth work workforce. The NOS are intended to describe the competencies required to fulfil the tasks required in the youth sector.

Contains main purpose of youth work, principles and values and functional map of standards, along with the whole suite of 41 standards.