Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru | National Assembly for Wales
Y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg | Children, Young People and Education Committee
Ymchwiliad i Waith Ieuenctid | Inquiry into Youth Work
YW 15
Ymateb gan : Dr John Rose
Response from : Dr John Rose
Question 2 - How effective do you think the Welsh Government strategy and policy on youth work is? In considering this question you may wish to think about: - the Welsh Government’s specific youth work policy and strategy such as ‘The Youth Work offer’; The Wales Charter for Youth Work; The National Youth Work Strategy for Wales 2014 to 2018; - Welsh Government departmental responsibilities and whether there is a cross-departmental and co-ordinated approach to support youth work provision. |
The Welsh Government strategy for Youth Work is ineffective because there is a significant mismatch between the purpose principles and values described in the National Youth Service Strategy and what is being allowed to be ‘provided’ to young people. During the past 10 years Welsh Government officials have tried to determine the type and style of work being done with young people rather than ensuring the outcomes of effective practice have a positive impact on a wide range of Welsh Government policy areas. The approach between Welsh Government departmental responsibilities is ineffective primarily because of a lack of a coherent or joined up approach. This is being caused by a fundamental lack of understanding by officials of the nature of Youth Work. The Youth Service is not being listened to and it is not in a healthy enough position to challenge the confusion arising from the Welsh Government. What is required is a coherent strategic position on how the outcomes of Youth Service provision, as this is identified in the National Youth Service Strategy, can make significant contributions to a wide range of Welsh Government policy areas.
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How do you think the Welsh Government could approach its youth work strategy and policy differently / to better effect? |
Consideration needs to be given to maximising out of school time for the benefit of young people and as part of an empowering and participative process involving them in the lives of their communities. This could be achieved by using the estimated £40 million per year (an estimated £300million during the last decade or so) provided by Welsh Government in a more creative way to promote active citizenship and the social empowerment of young people during their leisure time. This approach would be concerned with getting young people more active, developing citizenship skills and supporting personal citizenship. Active citizenship would require voluntary participation in economic, social, cultural and political activities delivered in an outcome driven non-formal education and informal learning framework outside of school. Learning would be seen as part of an activity not necessarily the main point of the activity. The answer to developing young people’s growth and development in a way that encourages active citizenship and personal citizenship requires a more holistic approach to education and learning than that found in school. Non-formal education and informal learning outside of school should be primarily concerned with supporting growth into citizenship and developing skills for active citizenship by; 1. promoting participation in the labour market, cultural life, education and public decision making; 2. creating opportunities for discussing topics such as identity, knowledge and moral issues; 3. practicing and developing participatory pedagogy; 4. developing participation skills in practice To maintain at least parity with educational developments in many other countries consideration needs to be given to developing a complementary education approach that uses methods used in many elite British schools. This approach would be concerned to achieve the bullet points above through simple but effective strategies linked to young people’s passions. For example, young-people-managed societies, sports clubs and music events are easily identified possibilities. |
Question 3 - What are your views on the funding available for youth work, including through Local Authority, Welsh Government, European Union, and Third Sector. |
The funding provided by Welsh Government has remained fairly consistent over the years. However, it is reduced in most instances by alternative local authority priorities to a point where the Youth Service is unable to provide an adequate service to young people, which is a requirement under relevant legislation. This has a subsequent effect on funding to National and Local Voluntary organisations by a reduction in both direct funding and in access to services such as for example training, information, buildings and transport.
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If you believe there are problems in this area, how do you think they could be resolved? |
What is required is a hypothecated budget to local authorities or a new structure for the delivery of Youth Work outside of the local authority framework. This new structure would be concerned to maximise provision for young people through a more balanced financial partnership between the maintained and voluntary Youth Work sectors. |