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.

This booklet is written for people in communities who are interested in setting up a local youth group. It assumes that they will normally be volunteers, that is, people who are not paid for their time. This booklet is not designed to be a comprehensive document, but rather a framework outlining how to get something off the ground.

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.

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)

The idea for this project arose from discussions with Alyn and Deeside Community Agency about the nature of the Agency's/Forum's role in empowering young people and developing models of practice for enabling young people to have a voice in their communities.

The aims of the project were to enable young people and the local community to arrive at decisions about the use of Sealand Manor community centre for young people's activities and how young people can contribute to this.   The project was also concerned with broader initiatives which address the interests and concerns of young people in the area.

This specific item explores the 5 key elements or faces of globalisation. It explores the main impacts of these on communities and young people.

A guide to quality standards for implementing detached and outreach youth work. Includes:- Definitions; Principles; Working Environment; Management and Supervision. A sample budget is also included. Bilingual WYA 'Newsline' paper.

Extract from MA thesis looking at the challenges for college leaders and staff for implementing government policy