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 24
Ymateb gan : ProMo-Cymru
Response from : ProMo-Cymru
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. |
1. Strategic vision / Operational reality · Increasing demand on existing workforce to be degree qualified, with skills and experience to enable the potential of young people NEET, those with protected characteristics and additional needs. · Link between prevention / intervention through Families First and Engagement and Progression framework focussed upon NEETS – early identification of families / individuals requiring targeted support. · UNCRC – questions as to how young people's right to share and receive information is being facilitated. · Outcomes outlined in the National Youth Work Strategy for Wales of participation, wider skills development, enhanced emotional competence – need for universal recognised national measurement framework in Wales. Previous developments with Demonstrating Success, a three year project to introduce a standard measurement for the outcomes of interventions, particularly in relation to social and emotional development was launched with senior professionals but not allocated any further promotion or development. · Youth information no longer exists as a coordinated approach without a national network of youth information working in collaboration with all 22 LA in Wales with dedicated local online presence to engage young people.
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How do you think the Welsh Government could approach its youth work strategy and policy differently / to better effect? |
· Concerns for the coordinated future of youth work in Wales between statutory and voluntary services with the impending loss of CWYVS. A national joint framework or council is key to ensuring resources are maximised, standards, work force, quality provision etc · Recognise contribution of voluntary workforce · Ensure voice of young people is representative of those experiencing challenges and barriers. · Participation standards with organisations alongside outcomes for young people in how decision making has been influenced through their participation. |
Question 3 - What are your views on the funding available for youth work, including through Local Authority, Welsh Government, European Union, and Third Sector. |
1. Local Authority Statutory services are lead strategic role for implementation of the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework and expected to have more innovative and inclusive approaches with less resources. LA funding discretion results in disparate services for young people, with regional and local agenda's dictating the focus and level of provision.
2. Third Sector Partnership and coproduction are becoming key to the survival of youth service. Both statutory and voluntary services need to be aligned but there is reluctance from some LA's to engage with Third Sector organisations in equal stakeholder partnerships, favouring a position of control that can stifle collaborative approach.
3. Welsh Government Wales previously achieved the recognised standard in European Youth Information and considered advanced in the European field of Youth Information and recognised within ERYICA as providers of formal/informal local and national information enabling voice and creating opportunities for intervention and prevention through effective information strategies. Funding has not been allocated to the provision of youth information.
4. European Union Concerns after Brexit about the future and ability for Third Sector to draw in funding from EU sources, without core funding many specialist and innovative youth services will not survive.
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If you believe there are problems in this area, how do you think they could be resolved? |
Reduced face-to-face services would benefit from the support of a robust, national youth information service supporting the implementation of The Youth Work offer’; The Wales Charter for Youth Work; The National Youth Work Strategy for Wales 2014 to 2018; UNCRC.
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