Sharon Lovell
I do hope this bulletin finds you well.
The Board met recently to begin looking at the role and remit of a potential national body for youth work in Wales. This was a priority for us this year, along with undertaking a funding review and work to strengthen the legislation for youth work in Wales.
Board members also had the pleasure of meeting with young people at various youth provisions in Cwmbran. Hopefully there will be other opportunities to do more visiting in the future!
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The Welsh Government will be publishing an Implementation Plan within the next few weeks which will provide an update on work to date to develop and take forward the Interim Board’s recommendations, and the focus for work over the year to come.
In the meantime, I am delighted to announce that the judging process has now finished for the Youth Work Excellence Awards 2023. We received a great number of excellent nominations from all around Wales. The judges commended the standard of projects and nominations. The finalists will be announced next month. So keep your eyes peeled for the shortlist announcement in early December!
A series of webinars, focusing on each of the five Implementation Participation Groups discussions, will begin in the new year. The first of these will focus on the ‘Young People are Thriving’ Group’s work. Look out for more details about these sessions soon.
I was pleased to hear that local students from Ysgol Bro Preseli were invited to the opening of Pentre Ifan – the Urdd’s environmental and wellbeing centre. You can read more about it in this edition of the newsletter. I think our worlds can be so overwhelmed with digital news and information, and connecting with each other face-to-face is so important. With that in mind, I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible over the weeks and months to come.
Please do look out for the Board’s updates which run alongside these newsletters. Our next update will reflect back on the first year of the Board’s work.
“Bully in Your Pocket”
Young People Create Animated Film About Online Bullying
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Over the summer holidays, young people from Senghenydd Youth Drop-in Centre (SYDIC) collaborated with the animation company Gritty Realism to create a short, animated film about online bullying. |
The plot of the film is about a girl who receives a mobile phone for Christmas and is excited about the new device, but soon learns that it can also be the source of online bullying behaviour by some children.
The film looks at how messages and social media messages can spiral out of control, and how messages that start as ‘banter’ can become hurtful and upsetting.
Ellie, Hope and Gracie who took part in the project said “we took part in the animation workshops during the Summer Holidays. During the first session, we made storyboards to help plan out the film, this also helped us figure out what characters and props needed making. We also took part in a workshop with the charity "Bullies Out", who taught us how to spot the signs of bullying and how to report bullying to an adult. They also taught us what to do when sending messages or playing games online; the motto was "Stop, Think, Is It Kind?".
Over the next few days, we designed characters, props and made silhouettes. The film uses stop-motion animation, so lots of photographs of small movements were taken. We also got to do some editing and helped write a poem about online bullying.”
The film will launch during Anti-Bullying Week, which started on Monday, November 13th, 2023. The young people involved are hoping to have a launch event at Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff, and they can't wait to see their hard work and effort on the big screen!
The project was also supported by young people from South Riverside Community Development Centre Cardiff, who have made amazing contributions through animation and music.
Youth Work Excellence Awards 2023
The Youth Work Excellence Awards is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding youth work projects, youth workers, young people and those involved in the Youth Work sector across Wales.
Thank you to ALL of you who nominated in the #YouthWorkAwards23.
More details about the event will be shared soon.
Young People Wanted to Shape the Future of Wales!
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Do you know a young person in Wales aged 16-24 who is passionate about making a difference? Do they want to have their voice heard and help shape the future of their country? If so, we want to hear from them!
Young Wales is recruiting young volunteers to join the Young Person's Guarantee Youth Advisory Board.
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The Young Person's Guarantee is a Welsh Government commitment to ensure that all young people aged 16-24 have the support they need to access education, training, employment or self-employment.
As a member of the Youth Advisory Board, they will have the opportunity to:
- Meet new friends and have fun
- Meet with Welsh Government Ministers
- Gain new skills and training
- Attend annual and national events
- Enhance their CV and/or UCAS application
- Receive financial support to attend meetings and residentials
This is a unique opportunity for young people to have a direct impact on policy and decision-making in Wales. If you know anyone who may be interested in getting involved, please ask them to register as a Young Wales Volunteer today!
For further information or if there are any barriers for participation, please get in touch with: volunteer@childreninwales.org.uk
New Youth Work Sector Appointments
The youth work sector in Wales welcomes two new appointments: Darryl White has been appointed as Workforce Development Officer based in WLGA , and Gethin Jones has been seconded from Ceredigion County Council to Welsh Government to act as Senior Youth Work Strategy Manager focusing on legislation and regional working.
Darryl has been involved in youth work for 15 years and is passionate about growing a workforce that meets the needs of young people. He says, "I work for the workforce and see my role as being the cement between the bricks, which binds all the great initiatives together."
Gethin has worked in a range of youth work roles across the sector, including outreach and school-based youth work, youth centre provision, pupil referral units, holiday activity programmes, youth justice, youth participation and engagement, and youth exchanges. Gethin is "excited to get to work with the team and sector to explore opportunities to strengthen the legislative framework for youth work in Wales."
Gethin and Darryl can be contacted via email:
Gethin: Gethin.Jones046@gov.wales
Darryl: Darryl.White@wlga.gov.uk
Education Workforce Council - Have Your Say!
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The Welsh Government is seeking views on proposals to amend the Regulations governing the membership of the Education Workforce Council's (EWC) Investigating Committees and Fitness to Practise Committees. |
The proposed changes would give the EWC more flexibility to appoint panel members from a wider pool of registered practitioners. This will help to ensure that the committees are composed of members with the right skills and experience to consider the cases before them.
If you are a registered practitioner or have an interest in the work of the EWC, the Welsh Government encourages you to submit your views on the proposed changes by 1 December 2023. You can do this by visiting: https://www.gov.wales/education-workforce-council-investigating-committee-and-fitness-practise-committee-membership
Empowering Youth Work Leaders
The National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales (NAELW) is a great resource for youth worker leaders who want to develop their skills and knowledge. Emma Chivers, the Leadership Advisor for Youth Work for NAELW, works with the youth work sector to help represent the youth work voice and promote relevant interests within NAELW and other education systems.
Emma works with leaders to maximize leadership opportunities and promote good practice across the sector.
NAELW is also pleased to welcome two recently appointed associates from the youth work sector, Loren Henry (Urban Circle Newport, Pan Wales) and Mel Ryan (Youth Cymru, Pan Wales).
If you are interested in learning more about how NAELW can help you, please visit their website:
nael.cymru/en
or contact Emma Chivers directly for an informal chat:
emma@ec-consultancy.co.uk
Calling all Voluntary Youth Work Sector Leaders in Wales!
Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS) and the National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales (NAELW) have organised online webinars to discuss all aspects of leadership within the Voluntary Youth Work Sector in Wales.
These webinars are an opportunity for leaders to learn, share best practice, and network with other leaders in the field:
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Leadership Issues and Challenges in the Voluntary Youth Work Sector in Wales 27 November 2023, 2-3pm
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Navigating Unknown Territory: Support and Opportunities for Leaders in the Voluntary Youth Work Sector in Wales 12 December 2023, 2-3pm.
All webinars are free to attend.
To register, or for further information please contact Emma Chivers at Emma@ec-consultancy.co.uk or Paul Glaze at paul@cwvys.org.uk
National Leadership Survey - Have Your Say!
The National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales (NAELW) is asking leaders from across the education system in Wales, including schools, the youth work sector and the Post Compulsory Education Training (PCET) sector to share their views, opinions and experiences in their first National Leadership Survey.
The results of the survey will contribute to the evidence base the NAELW are assembling to inform - and challenge - policy and practice across the education system. The survey will also provide insights on how leaders currently engage with the NAELW so that they can improve the way they support and develop educational leadership across Wales.
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The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Have your say and complete the survey here |
Assessors Wanted
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The Education Workforce Council (EWC) are recruiting Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales (QMYW) Assessors.
You don’t need any specific qualifications to become an Assessor. But it helps if you're passionate about celebrating youth work in Wales and have an interest in quality assurance.
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For more information about becoming an Assessor, visit EWC’s website.
Youth Endowment Fund – Evidence in Practise
The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) are excited to launch a new strand of their work which is set to support colleagues across the youth and community sector, working in Trusted Adult roles or delivering Positive Activities that seek to reduce youth violence. |
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There will be an online Virtual learning Café, including guest speakers and key insights to interventions that can support your work in reducing youth violence.
All details can be found in their ‘evidence in practice’ newsletter here.
Partnership to Open New Doors for Police Youth Volunteers in South Wales
South Wales Police has partnered with CWVYS to open up new doors for Police Youth Volunteers (PYVs). The four-year agreement, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, will enhance the delivery of the force's PYV scheme and provide young people with even more opportunities to learn and grow.
 The PYV scheme has grown considerably since its launch in 2014, with over 100 volunteers aged between 14 and 17 now taking part across South Wales. PYVs are part of a police youth group recognised throughout the UK, and the scheme aims to inspire members to participate positively in their communities, encourage good citizenship, and nurture a spirit of adventure. Volunteers often take part in work which supports local policing priorities and learn new skills that enhance their work in the community.
Under the new partnership, CWVYS will work closely with its partners, including the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Wales, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), to deliver a bespoke programme for PYVs.
Youth Worker Attends Prestigious International Leadership Programme.
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Cara Jones, Ceredigion County Council, has returned from a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the 31st International Leadership Programme for Rural Youth Work in Herrsching, Germany. |
Cara was selected to take part in the two-week programme, organized by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), brought together 77 Youth Workers and Leaders from 46 countries to learn, share, and plan.
The programme's motto was "Think globally – Get together and act locally”. Participants explored topics such as leadership and motivation, conflict resolution, teamwork, creativity, and communication. They also learned about different cultures and traditions, and the many challenges that Youth Workers face around the world.
Cara Jones said, "The International Leadership Programme for Rural Youth Work was an incredible experience that I will never forget. I had the opportunity to learn from and share ideas with Youth Workers from all over the world. I also had the privilege of planning and delivering a session for over 60 participants, which was a challenging but rewarding experience. I am now able to put my new skills and knowledge to use here in my work in Ceredigion to help even more young people reach their full potential."
Councillor Alun Williams, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Through-age and Wellbeing Services, said, "We are incredibly proud of Cara for representing Wales at this prestigious international programme. Her participation is a testament to her dedication to her work and to the young people of Ceredigion. We are grateful to BMEL for funding this opportunity, which allowed Cara to experience something truly special."
Cara's participation in the International Leadership Programme for Rural Youth Work is an inspiration to us all. She is a shining example of the amazing work that Youth Workers do every day to make a difference in the lives of young people.
More information about the programme can be found here: Home: International Herrsching Seminar (international-herrsching-seminar.de)
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Taith – Funding Opportunities for the Youth Sector!
Taith’s Pathway 2 is all about working collaboratively with international partners to tackle an issue or sector priority.
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The projects focus on developing and implementing innovative practices in education through the creation of a project output, which will be shared across Wales and beyond.
The deadline for applications is 12pm on Thursday 30th November 2023.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please visit Taith’s website or contact enquiries@taith.wales
Urdd Gobaith Cymru Opens Digital Detox Retreat for Young People
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Urdd Gobaith Cymru has opened its fourth Residential Centre. Pentre Ifan Environmental and Wellbeing Residential Centre in north Pembrokeshire is the first of its kind in Wales, and will prioritise the environment, the emotional wellbeing of young people, and the Welsh language in a residential experience. |
Local students from Ysgol Bro Preseli were invited to the opening, along with Climate Change Minister, Julie James MS, and Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles MS.
Jeremy Miles said: “I’m pleased to officially open this unique project. The Urdd has done brilliant work listening to and creating a centre that focuses on the environment, young people’s wellbeing, and the Welsh language.
Our Curriculum for Wales is all about listening to pupils and learning in a way that engages them. The climate and nature emergency, as well as wellbeing, are central to the Curriculum and form part of every learner's education. I’m delighted that Pentre Ifan will help learners connect with and respect nature, support their mental and physical health and develop healthy relationships with technology.”
https://www.urdd.cymru/en/residential-centres/pentre-ifan/
Merthyr Tydfil’s Academy of Success Celebrates Young People
During Youth Work Week 2023, Merthyr Tydfil’s Academy of Success held its awards ceremony at Merthyr Tydfil Football Club. The awards recognised the successes of young people, aged 11-25, and the organisations who work with them across Merthyr Tydfil County Borough.
The Academy of Success awards are a wonderful way to celebrate the achievements of young people in Merthyr Tydfil. The young people involved in these awards are an absolute inspiration to the wider community. They are demonstrating what it means to be an independent and active citizen, and they are making a real difference in their community.
For more information on the event please visit Academy of Success Celebration Evening 2023 | Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Sgwrsio with the EWC: Peer-on-peer Sexual Harassment
Listen up! The third episode of the Education Workforce Council's new podcast is now available, and it's a must-listen for anyone who wants to learn more about understanding and addressing sexual harassment in education settings.
Listen and subscribe now.
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Get in touch via email (youthwork@gov.wales) if you want to contribute to the next newsletter. We'll provide a style guide for submitting articles to us, with information on the word count of articles for the various sections.
Please remember to use #YouthWorkinWales #GwaithIeuenctidCymru when tweeting to raise the profile of Youth Work in Wales.
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