National Occupational Standards define what each sector agrees to be good practice. The Standards can provide the basis for qualifications within the sector, but they also have many wider uses. This guide provides some examples and is designed to explain what the standards are and signpost further advice and information.

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.

Summary and full report.

This report is the first piece of work conducted under the auspices (and direction) of a research partnership between the University of Wales (Cardiff) School of Social and Administrative Studies and the Wales Youth Agency.  Financial support for the project was provided by the Wales Youth Agency and Health Promotion Wales.  At a time of local government reorganisation in Wales, the research group which oversees the work of the partnership felt that a research priority was to examine the extent to which contemporary youth work practice met the 'needs' of young people within the 15-19 age range.