BA Youth & Community Work Dissertation.

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework (WG, 2013) has had on Cardiff Youth Service in relation to structures, systems, staff, style, skills, strategies and shared values identified through the McKenzie 7's framework.

In order to gain an in-depth understanding the literature presented within the literature review explored the developments of the Youth Service in Wales and strategies set out to provide vision for the service. The study later discusses the methodology used which set out to gather the views and opinions of practitioners through conducting observations, and two semi structured interviews.

The study concluded that the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework had significant impact on the service which may be seen as a positive . It provides vision for the service, however, it may be argued that Youth Work values and principles are diminished.

This document is focused on reducing the number of young people aged 11 to 25 who are not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET). All parts of the system from Welsh Government, National Partners, local authorities and providers will need to work together to successfully implement this plan. The plan sets out the different roles and responsibilities of key players and expectations for how each partner will deliver. Partners include senior leaders in local authorities, Careers Wales, the Youth Service and providers (schools, further education (FE) colleges, work-based learning (WBL)). 

The Youth engagement and progression framework – Implementation plan has six key elements:

1. Identifying young people most at risk of disengagement.
2. Better brokerage and coordination of support.
3. Stronger tracking and transitions of young people through the system.
4. Ensuring provision meets the needs of young people.
5. Strengthening employability skills and opportunities for employment.
6. Greater accountability for better outcomes for young people.

There are two new offers to young people through the framework.

• The first is the allocation of single point of contact (a lead worker) to the most at-risk young people to help ensure that support is delivered in a joined up and coordinated way and that works to meet their needs.
• The second is the development of a proactive and positive Youth Guarantee that will help to ensure that every young person has access to a suitable place in learning post-16. 

The Youth Engagement and Progression Framework (YEPF) aims to reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The Framework has six components, proven to be effective at increasing youth engagement and progression when implemented together as part of a strategy. These are: early identification, better brokerage and coordination of support; stronger tracking and transition of young people; ensuring provision meets the needs of young people; a focus on employability skills and opportunities for employment among young people; and greater accountability. Local authorities (LAs) have been charged with the role of leading implementation of the Framework, working closely with Careers Wales, youth services, schools, training providers to those aged 16 and over and other partners.  

The evaluation aimed to assess progress made to implement the Framework and the effectiveness of implementation processes with a view to considering whether the non-statutory guidance is sufficient to achieve the Welsh Government’s ambitions and targets and identifying learning to improve guidance and implementation. 

Background to the youth work career pack produced for the Welsh Assembly Government by the Council for Wales of Voluntary Services (CWVYS) and Promo Cymru as part of the 'Thanks Sam' campaign.

Includes details of contributors and list of contents.

 

This document is in support of the Youth engagement and progression framework. This document provides initial guidance to local authorities and key partners regarding the Youth Guarantee and the key processes that need to be put in place to ensure young people remain engaged in education, employment or training. The document will be informed by pilot activity and will be finalised in autumn 2014 before the Youth Guarantee is implemented across Wales.

In the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework Implementation Plan we commit to introducing a guarantee to a place in education or training for young people leaving compulsory education for the first time. Our Youth Guarantee is the “offer, acceptance and commencement of a suitable place in education or training for a young person making the first time transition from compulsory education at age 16.”

The Youth Guarantee is being piloted in the North and West regions of Wales from November 2013 to October 2014. It is planned that the Youth Guarantee will be rolled out across Wales from November 2014 to October 2015. This means that the first young people will take up their offers under the Guarantee in September and October 2015.

Youth work career pack produced for the Welsh Assembly Government by the Council for Wales of Voluntary Services (CWVYS) and Promo Cymru. 

Part 1 includes aims and objectives of the pack.

Youth work career pack produced for the Welsh Assembly Government by the Council for Wales of Voluntary Services (CWVYS) and Promo Cymru.

Part 2 contains three interactive workshop sessions to use with young people. It also provides support and information relevant to the planning and delivery of the sessions in youth work facilities or in a classroom, targeting different groups of young people, depending on their level of contact with youth work.

Youth work career pack produced for the Welsh Assembly Government by the Council for Wales of Voluntary Services (CWVYS) and Promo Cymru. 

Part 3 contains more detailed background information for youth workers and other professionals, and for young people. This includes information on volunteering, training routes, accreditation, careers, organisations that can help and additional information that a young person might need to help make a decision about whether or not to take up youth work and which career path to take.

Youth work career pack produced for the Welsh Assembly Government by the Council for Wales of Voluntary Services (CWVYS) and Promo Cymru. 

Part 4 contains all the resources and plans for the sessions including icebreakers and exercises. 

The Welsh Government is seeking views on new proposals to support the development of a new National Youth Work Strategy.

Start of consultation: 18/06/2013
End of consultation: 16/09/2013

The Welsh Government committed in the Programme for Government to update the National Youth Service Strategy. The outcomes of this consultation will be used to inform a new National Youth Work Strategy for Wales to be published during the Autumn 2013.