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We’ve worked with young people to create the NEST framework.
Nurturing,
Empowering,
Safe and
Trusted.
It’s about making sure everyone involved in a young person’s life is working together to support their mental health.
Youth workers support mental health, you’re often the first to spot when something’s not right, and you’re a trusted adult for young people.
We want to ensure youth workers are part of a connected system through NEST. We’d love for you to join in:
Questions? NEST.MentalHealth@gov.wales.
In June 2025, under the Youth Justice Blueprint, we published a single Prevention Framework for youth justice activity. There is a wide range of evidence regarding what works to prevent children and young people from coming into contact with the justice system, and a wide range of activity being delivered in areas like youth work, education, substance misuse, health and support for families, which has a preventative impact.
The Prevention Framework creates a single, joined-up view of how we are preventing young people from getting involved in criminal behaviour and supporting them towards fulfilling, crime-free lives.
The Framework reflects the strategic and operational landscape in Wales, including our Children and Young People’s Plan and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It continues to support further work to improve how prevention works in practice.
PREVENTION FRAMEWORK
Over £1bn in benefits go unclaimed in Wales each year. The Claim What's Yours campaign encourages families to check their entitlements via the free Advicelink Cymru helpline. You can help by using our campaign materials on your organisation's channels. Visit our website for more info on the campaign.
Work to establish a new national body to enhance the youth work offer for young people across Wales is gathering pace.
A dedicated Delivery Board has been set up to drive progress and lead on the body’s remit, funding and governance arrangements. You can see recent announcements about the new body and the Delivery Board on the Welsh Government website.
Stay up to date
Keep an eye on the Youth Work Bulletin and the Delivery Board web pages for regular updates on progress.
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Have your say
Your views, comments and ideas are crucial to ensure this national body supports the sector as a whole and ensure youth work is valued and understood. More information on how you can feed into shaping the national body and ensure it drives the sector forward will be shared in future editions of the Bulletin.
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DARPL for Youth Work provision in Wales supports continuous professional learning, through leadership consultation, collaboration with community organisations and the Welsh Government, research, policy development, action planning, cultural strategy co-construction and learning at all levels. A series of events will be held over the next few weeks to provide an informal, open conversation space and support for positively contributing towards Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan (ArWAP) and aspirations in community life for an Anti-Racist Wales 2030.
To find out more and book a place please follow the links below.
Cardiff – Thursday 5 February 4-6pm
Swansea – Friday 6 February 9.30am-12.30pm
Other dates for north and mid Wales will follow – further information will be available on the DARPL events page.
Cardiff Youth Service’s Young Creators group have worked with youth workers to produce a short film highlighting the law and safety considerations around e-bikes and e-scooters. The project was developed with Cardiff Council’s Community Safety team to address anti-social behaviour linked to e-vehicles and to promote public safety.
The film explains where e-vehicles can be used legally, age requirements and the risks associated with illegal or modified e-bikes. It encourages young people and families to keep e-vehicle use fun, safe and legal. The film will be shared through Cardiff Council and youth service channels to support conversations about responsible riding.
Watch the film: https://youtu.be/JBEMhP1Gf6o
In October 2025, Denbighshire Youth Service brought together young people from across North Wales to record a podcast exploring the role, benefits and impact of Youth Councils. The session also provided space to consider opportunities for stronger regional collaboration.
Following the event, Youth Councils from Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham began work towards establishing a North Wales Youth Council network, with an initial meeting planned for February 2026. The podcast is available on Denbighshire Youth Service’s YouTube channel and supports wider engagement with youth voice and participation across the region.
Watch the podcast:
Find out more: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/youth-service
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Young people from across North Wales take part in a Youth Councils podcast recording hosted by Denbighshire Youth Service, exploring youth voice, participation and regional collaboration. |
In November 2025, the Youth Engagement and Participation Service in Rhondda Cynon Taf re-established the County Youth Forum, bringing together 55 young people from 11 secondary schools and youth forums. Hosted in the Council Chambers, the session focused on democracy and healthy eating in schools, aligning with forthcoming scrutiny discussions.
Young people took part in debates, a mock council meeting and direct discussions with councillors and senior officers. The forum strengthened young people’s understanding of local decision-making and has led to further invitations for youth involvement in council scrutiny, supporting meaningful participation and influence at a local level.
This work highlights how youth workers can support meaningful participation by creating structured opportunities for young people to engage with real decision-makers on issues that matter to them. Using authentic settings and live local agendas helps young people better understand democracy and see the impact of their voices. The approach demonstrates how sustained youth forums can move beyond consultation, supporting confidence, civic learning and genuine influence within local decision-making processes. If you require any further information, please contact Nicola.J.Murphy@rctcbc.gov.uk.
EYST Wales has published Do You See My Trauma? The Lived Realities of Minority Ethnic People, a research report exploring experiences of racism and racial trauma faced by minority ethnic individuals and families across Wales. The findings highlight the impact of racism across education, policing, health and social care, employment and public spaces.
Commissioned by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Hub Wales, the report will inform work to support an anti-racist and trauma-informed Wales. It contributes to national commitments under the Criminal Justice Anti-Racist Action Plan and supports organisations to better recognise and respond to racial trauma.
The Urdd's Apprentices Department https://www.urdd.cymru/en/apprenticeships/dod-yn-brentis/ delivers fully funded Level 2 and Level 3 Youth Work apprenticeships, supported by the Welsh Government, for individuals working, or seeking to work, as Youth Support Workers. Apprentices must be in paid employment for a minimum of 16 hours per week and can complete Level 2 in 15 months, Level 3 in 16 months, or a combined programme within 16 months. There is no age limit, and the programme is open to staff from organisations delivering youth work services across Wales.
Apprentices are supported to gain temporary EWC registration, progressing to full registration on completion, strengthening youth work practice and workforce capacity.
The Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS) has established a series of webinars and in person events to help voluntary sector organisations prepare for the new statutory framework for youth work, due to come into force by April 2026. The events will provide an opportunity to discuss and debate the opportunities presented by the new framework, any potential barriers which may be experienced and possible solutions and ways forward.
Webinars (for voluntary sector organisations only):
10 February 10.00-11.00am. Register via: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/statutory-framework-for-youth-work-in-wales-tickets-1980653114784?aff=oddtdtcreator
11 February 2.00-3.00pm. Register via: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/statutory-framework-for-youth-work-in-wales-tickets-1980653114784?aff=oddtdtcreator
In-person (for all):
26 February – Swansea. Tickets here: Statutory Framework for Youth Work in Wales Tickets, Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite
27 February – Cardiff. Tickets here: Statutory Framework for Youth Work in Wales Tickets, Fri, Feb 27, 2026 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite
11 March – West Wales TBC
12 March – Rhyl. Tickets here: Statutory Framework for Youth Work in Wales Tickets, Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite
The final opportunity to apply for Taith Pathway 1 funding opened on 28 January, and runs up until 16 March 2026. Pathway 1 supports international exchanges for learners, young people and staff, both short- and long-term.
These opportunities enable participants to share learning, experience different cultures and develop new skills. Guidance, resources and webinar information to support applications are available via the or by contacting james61@taith.wales.
Youth Cymru works with partners across the sector to source a broad and representative range of content. Organisations are encouraged to share relevant updates, opportunities and good news stories that support national youth work priorities.
Further details on submission timelines and requirements are shared ahead of each edition.
If you would like to contribute to a future bulletin, please get in touch via email. A style guide and information on word counts for each section will be provided.
Content should be sent to GICYWW@youthcymru.org.uk.
Follow updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GIC.YWW
Deadline for the next bulletin: Please submit content by 17th February.
Get in touch via email (youthwork@gov.wales) if you want to contribute to the next bulletin. 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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