What We Do

On 11 February 2008, the SW Regional Youth Work Unit held a conference on the Government's 10 year strategy for young people, 'Aiming High for Young People'.  Read the full report here.
 

The unit supports international youth work

Regional Networks: We run a range of networks for workers and managers in youth work organisations in the region, to facilitate the sharing of information and practice. This often results in the creation of regional models of good practice, much of which has national applications including

• The Recorded Outcomes Toolkit
• Firm Foundations by Tessa Hibbert - A framework and tools for identifying and acting on the needs of young people 
• Supervision Guidelines

Work with Regional and National Partners:  The RYWU operates at a strategic level with a range of regional and national bodies including

• Government Office South West
• National Youth Agency
• South West Regional Assembly
• UK Youth Parliament
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• Department for Education and Skills
• Connect Youth International
• National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
• Rural Youth Network
• Arts Council England (South West)
• Participation Works
• CWDC

Development Work: We undertake a range of projects to support good youth work in the region. Currently we work with Heritage Lottery Fund to promote the Young Roots programme to engage young people in developing local heritage projects. We are also working on an action learning coaching programme for youth work staff called ‘Experience Matters’. In 2004-2006 we worked with youth work providers in the region to develop good practice in recording and accrediting young people’s learning and achievement through youth work.

International Youth Work:  We promote the provision of a wide range of international opportunities for young people, through the European Youth Programme and other sources. We can also advise youth groups on potential international projects.


 

Reviews and Evaluation: The RYWU has extensive experience of providing external evaluation and reviews to youth work organisations, acting as a ‘critical friend’ in analysing aspects of delivery, management and workforce development. A selection of previous reports can be found under Policies Guidelines and Key Documents. We welcome new commissions for this service.

Training and Consultancy: The RYWU works with youth work employers, training providers and awarding bodies to ensure there are sufficient and appropriate qualification and staff development opportunities for youth workers across the region. Where appropriate, we organise regional training events, and can offer in-house and sub-regional training programmes on issues from youth participation to performance management. We can also provide consultancy support to help youth work providers put in place the best possible workforce development programmes for their staff and volunteers.

Young People’s Participation: We co-ordinate the work of the UK Youth Parliament in the region, supporting local authorities in running elections for Members of Youth Parliament and facilitating regional meetings and consultation events. We support young people’s representation on the South West Regional Assembly.

The Regional Youth Work Unit has been awarded a contract with Participation Works to provide a programme of support to Voluntary & Community sector professionals working with young people to help develop and improve a culture of participation.

Funding for the work over the next 3 years has come from a central bid to the Big Lottery Fund and here in the South West it will help develop the Regional Participation Network for practitioners and also fund training events to share good practice and help develop skills.

To find out more about our work with Participation Works, please click here.

Alternatively, please contact Sharon Adams, Regional Youth Democracy Worker: sharon_adams@learning-southwest.org.uk

Voluntary Youth Sector:  We have worked with the Change Up and Capacity Builders programmes to enhance the infrastructure support for voluntary youth organisations in the region, through the South West Network for Voluntary Youth Organisations. We support local developments, organise training and briefing events and consultations on key issues for the sector.

Jeremy Browne MP for Taunton recently found out more about our latest Big Lottery funded Voluntary Youth Sector Development project designed to build a strong, collective voice for voluntary youth organisations at regional level. Find out more about this exciting project over the coming weeks but in the meantime read the press release about Jeremy's visit.