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Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of the Youth Work Bulletin.
I do hope this finds you well.
During the month of June, we celebrated Youth Work Week.
I always look forward to this time of year when we share experiences and reflect on the difference Youth Work makes for young people, our communities, and our country.
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This year, the theme was Why Youth Work? I was so inspired by the stories that were shared and examples of how Youth Work enables young people to thrive.
Leading up to Youth Work Week, the Board met with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Buffy Williams, MS Chair of the Children/Young People’s Education Committee as well as young people to discuss the importance of Youth Work and the Board’s work. This was a great opportunity to hear directly from young people from different backgrounds about the impact of Youth Work on their lives.
 I took part in my first ever podcast with young people at St Mellons Youth Centre, and they asked me some fantastic questions about funding, the importance of wellbeing and having fun, and how can they make change happen in their communities. They shared with me their views on how Youth Work allows them to be who they truly are, having a sense of identity and belonging. I also had the pleasure of being a speaker at the Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work Conference at Wrexham University.
I also attended the Deaf Cool Club Youth Centre in Cardiff’s City Centre. I love this safe place for the young deaf community in Cardiff, run by talented staff and volunteers. It is an example of how our youth services can be shaped around inclusion and equality of access. All this demonstrated that Youth Work is very much alive, and as a Board, we are building strong foundations as we go forward with the implementation of our work for the sustainability of Youth Work in the future.
I would like to thank all of you who have taken part in the Empower Hour sessions and webinars to enable the Board to hear directly from you as we progress our work on strengthening the legislation for Youth Work in Wales.
In August, the Urdd will be hosting a residential weekend for young people on behalf of the Welsh Government to inform the work on developing a youth led governance structure.
Youth Work works, thanks to the dedicated and passionate people at the heart of it. There are many volunteers and professional workers who educate, enable, and empower young people.
Sharon Lovell.
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Youth Work Champions aim to highlight positive work in the Youth Work sector and advocate for young people, Youth Workers, organisations, and local authorities across Wales.
Molly Fenton shares below her experiences as a young person, the founder of the Love Your Period campaign, and a Youth Work Champion.
I’m honoured to be one of the Youth Work Champions.
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Growing up with a lot of support from Youth Workers, I felt that it was for us to come together as a community to ensure young people’s voices are heard and shine a spotlight on the amazing work and impact that Youth Work professionals, young people, organisations, and local authorities advocate every day.
At 16 years old, I started the Love Your Period campaign. I fell extremely ill during my exams and realised that there were signs and symptoms around my body that I was embarrassed about, so I put off going to the doctor. Youth Work was a huge reason why I was able to get my life back after my illness and express myself through my advocacy work.
Youth Work is so important, and it has such a positive impact on young lives, including my own. Becoming a Youth Work Champion is providing me with the opportunity to help support other people in speaking out about how Youth Work can change lives.
A Youth Work Champion to me is about advocating for young people, and that involves championing their causes. Through my own work with Love Your Period, I have seen firsthand what positive advocacy does and the impact it can have. I want to provide guidance and encourage young people to take part in supporting youth services and taking any opportunities that are presented to them.
I’m thrilled to do my part to give back.
To find out more about Molly’s work, please visit loveyourperiod | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree
YMCA Cardiff Group proudly Introduces “Bedford Place,” A New 18-Bed Apartment Complex for Young People at risk of homelessness in Cardiff
In a landmark initiative, YMCA Cardiff has announced the commencement of the construction of an innovative 18-bed apartment complex, dedicated to providing safe and secure accommodation for young homeless people in Cardiff.
 Recognising the urgent issue of youth homelessness, YMCA Cardiff's purpose-built complex provides a transformative approach to support young people. Key features include:
Modern, Safe, and Supportive Environment: Each apartment is designed to offer a comfortable and nurturing space.
On-site Support Services: A dedicated team will provide comprehensive support, including life skills training and access to education and employment opportunities.
Community Integration: The complex will foster positive interactions with local businesses and communities, encouraging social integration and reducing stigma.
Sustainable Practices: Incorporating eco-friendly technologies, the complex will promote sustainable living and minimize its carbon footprint.
This development underscores YMCA Cardiff's dedication to creating stable environments for homeless youths to rebuild their lives and secure brighter futures.
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This modern development, utilising contemporary methods of construction set be completed January 2025 and young people will be moving in on the 1st of February 2025. |
For more information, please visit - YMCA Cardiff Group proudly Introduces Ground-breaking Project “Bedford Place” - YMCA Cardiff
Let’s Reflect - Youth Work Week 2024, ‘Why Youth Work?’
From June 23–30, we celebrated the annual, Youth Work Week across Wales.
This was a perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of Youth Workers, organisations, local authorities, and young people that contribute to impacting young people’s lives.
This year’s theme of ‘Why Youth Work?’ helped underscore the importance and benefits of Youth Work. Allowing individuals to reflect on the reasons behind the essential role that Youth Work has in creating change.
 We saw a huge response as we were inundated with positive messages via videos, imagery, events, and more that transcended across multiple social media platforms.
Our Youth Work Champions took part in delivering supportive video messages highlighting the importance of Youth Work Week, whilst also reflecting on their own experiences and journeys within the Youth Work sector.
Another highlight of the week came in the form of hosting an online social media takeover where youth organisations, young people, Youth Workers, and local authorities were given the opportunity to post their own content on the Youth Work in Wales social media accounts and take part in showcasing their own take on, ‘Why Youth Work?’
The fifth and final IPG webinar also took place on June 24th “Building Stronger links between Youth Work and other parts of the Education system”, led by the Strategic Communication and Engagement Implementation Participation Group, one of the five groups established to support the work of the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board.
During the meeting, there were a number of positive discussions surrounding the importance of Youth Work and education, and we thank both the contributors who took part in making the series of IPG webinars a success and the sector for engaging so positively to Youth Work Week.
If you would like to watch the webinars back, please visit Gwaith Ieuenctid Cymru | Youth Work In Wales - YouTube
The 'Empower Hour' sessions provided an opportunity to discuss important topics as part of our work to strengthen the legislative framework for Youth Work. Thanks to everyone that took part.
 If you would like to find out more information about the findings from the Empower Hour sessions please visit, Youth Work in Wales What does it mean for young people? – CWVYS
Communications plans for the year ahead
Building on the momentum from the successful Youth Work Week in 2024, we are excited about the upcoming opportunities for the year ahead.
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As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, it has been decided that the Youth Work Excellence Awards will take a pause this year while we assess the effectiveness and purpose of the nominations process and the format of the Award ceremony.
We will continue to develop a network of Youth Work Champions throughout the year to showcase innovation and excellence. If you know of a project that you would like to highlight, please get in touch with manon@cwvys.org.uk
In addition to our Youth Work Champions, there will also be an in-person conference focusing on the power of partnerships and collaboration within Youth Work in early 2025. Further details of the programme will be available later this summer.
We welcome your continued support and input as we work together to maximise opportunities and share your passion, positivity, and practice in Youth Work.
Young People Shape the Future of Mental Health Services in Gwent
Young people in Gwent are actively shaping a vision for a more resilient and mentally healthy community through the Mind Our Future Gwent project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and managed by ProMo Cymru and Newport Mind.
Using service design methodology, the project involves four phases: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver.
 During the Discovery phase, 10 peer researchers gathered insights, leading to a comprehensive report highlighting key needs:
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Trustworthy and Understanding Staff: Emphasis on staff being friendly yet professional.
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Flexible and Accessible Services: Services must meet diverse needs.
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Awareness of Services: Many young people are unaware of available mental health services.
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Consistency in Support: Consistency is crucial, especially during service transitions.
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Overcoming Negative Experiences: Past negative experiences deter help-seeking.
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Addressing Stigma: Fear of stigma prevents many from seeking support.
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Timely Support: Essential to get the right support at the right time.
These insights from 203 young people inform the next project phases: Define, Develop, and Deliver. Prototypes include campaigns to tackle stigma, enhanced staff training, improved support via SPACE panels, and increased peer support. Peer service designers are collaborating to refine these ideas.
For more information about Mind Our Future Gwent and to stay updated, you can sign up for the stakeholder newsletter here.
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A youth sector response to homelessness agenda in Wales.
What now, what next?
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Back in 2019, Nick Hudd, Senior Youth Work Practitioner for Pembrokeshire Local Authority penned his account of the Youth Work response to homelessness. Now, five years on he reflects on the current situation and casts an eye towards the future.
Recently, various interested parties worked collectively to plan and facilitate a national conference, ‘Working Together to Address Youth Homelessness.’ Perhaps this event offers a tangible illustration of the current state of play and an example of the sector doing what it does best, building partnerships, seeking to address deficits, finding ways to share examples of good practice, and working together in the interest of young people.
All 22 local authority youth services collaborated and agreed to co-fund the event, along with a third sector partner, End Youth Homelessness Cymru. Welsh Government and WLGA also played a pivotal role in helping plan and facilitate the day. With the sector sometimes being accused of navel-gazing and recognising the brokerage role that Youth Work plays, attendees were invited from a range of professions including social care, health, and a host of voluntary/third sector organisations.
Youth Work has always prided itself on being innovative, adapting, and modifying to meet the needs of contemporary society. Recognising and building on these strengths allow us to effectively respond to youth homelessness. However, to move forward, we sometimes have to look back and identify areas where more development has been required.
To view the complete article, visit - A youth sector response to the homelessness agenda in Wales. What now, what next? (ewc.wales)
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New Urdd #FelMerch project in India - Closing date for applications soon!
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The Urdd has launched a programme for young people from Wales to help combat sexual and gender-based violence in India, following funding from the Welsh Government.
 Working in partnership with Her Future Coalition (HFC), the programme will enable 18–25 year-old volunteers from Wales to participate in education and support programmes for children and young people in Kolkata who are at high risk.
Applications for a place on the Urdd's visit to India in 2025 closes on 19 July: https://www.urdd.cymru/en/international-projects/india/ymgeisio/
The initiative is being launched as part of the year of Wales in India, which began on 1 March 2024, to promote activities that strengthen the relationship between India and Wales. There will be an invitation for representatives from India to visit Wales, hosted by the Urdd, next year.
Youth and Intercultural Dialogue in times of Artificial Intelligence
Call for participants – deadline 25 July 2024!
 There is a call for participants to apply for the 8th Arab-European Youth Forum, to be held in Luxor, Egypt, from 14 to 19 October 2024.
The forum is co-organised with the League of Arab States and will focus on Youth and Intercultural Dialogue in Times of Artificial Intelligence.The deadline for applications is 24 July 2024. The call is also available at this link: https://go.coe.int/65BLy
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New Quality Mark Development Officer
The Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales is a unique tool for organisations to both self-assess their quality against three standard levels Bronze, Silver, and Gold, and then to apply for external assessment to achieve the Quality Mark standard.
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The Education Workforce Council (EWC) continues to hold the contract to run the Quality Mark on behalf of Welsh Government and they are delighted to announce the appointment of Tara Reddy as the new Quality Mark Development Officer.
Tara will take over from Andy Borsden this summer in leading the development of the Quality Mark for Youth Work (QMYW) in Wales, bringing more than 25 years of experience in both local authority and voluntary Youth Work to the role.
If you are interested in finding out more about the QMYW, visit the EWC website, CGA / EWC
Were you born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011?
If so, you might have a Child Trust Fund in your name. This is a savings account for children as they grow up.
If you are aged 16 or over, you can decide where this money is invested.
If you are aged 18 or over, you can access the money.
If you think you might have money in a Child Trust Fund, you could try speaking to a trusted adult or contacting us on the Meic helpline.
You could also access these services for information or support: Looking for more information about Child Trust Funds? - Home - Meic (meiccymru.org)
Welsh Youth Parliament, Ready to Shape the Future?
The campaign for the third term of the Welsh Youth Parliament launched on 27 May 2024 during the Urdd Eisteddfod.
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Young people aged 11-17 across Wales can register to vote and highlight their key concerns. Candidate nominations run from July to October, with results announced on 21 October ahead of the elections from 4-25 November 2024.
For more details on national online elections and member announced, contact hello@youthparliament.wales or visit senedd.wales.
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ETS are proud to launch their New Podcast series:
This is Youth Work
They are delving into the lives of Youth Workers, on the front line of working with young people, hearing their journeys into Youth Work, learning what motivates and enthuses them to work with young people.
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Want to listen? You can by visiting their YouTube page: ETS Wales - YouTube please like and subscribe for more information!
They are also looking for participants from Mid and North Wales and a representative to facilitate through the medium of Welsh, if you know someone willing to help and take part, please get in touch with Darryl darryl.white@wlga.gov.uk. This is part of a pilot project to communicate directly with Youth Work practitioners, if you have any ideas on episode themes please let Darryl know.
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.
Follow @ieuenctidcymru on X and Facebook to keep up to date with all news.
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