Author: Helen

News from the Taith team announced this week; Taith Pathway 2 opening in the Autumn Partnership and Strategic collaboration

Taith is pleased to announce that in Autumn 2022 we will be opening our Pathway 2: Partnership and Strategic collaboration funding call, open to the further education, vocational education and training, adult education, schools and youth sectors in Wales.

To participate in Pathway 2, organisations in Wales must partner with an international organisation.

We will fund projects between eligible organisations in Wales and their international partners who wish to work together and share their expertise and best practice on a strategic goal. At the end of the project, the partnership will have produced a resource, tool or other practical output that addresses an issue or drives forward good practice in the Welsh education, training and youth sectors.

 

How to get involved?

It’s important to begin identifying potential partners and considering the area or topic you wish to collaborate on. Pathway 2 will be launching in October, and events will be held over this period providing more information and support to applicants.

 

Why get involved?

Through Pathway 2, we will connect Welsh organisations with international partners, using mobility and collaboration to facilitate partnerships that will benefit the Welsh education, training and youth sector at large, including:

 

• Innovating Welsh education, training and youth, ensuring Wales is a leader in these fields.
• Raising the profile of Welsh organisations in education, training and youth.
• Addressing key issues in Welsh educational sectors and broader society.
• Facilitating Welsh access to international organisations and harnessing these networks and partners’ knowledge and expertise.
• Creating long-lasting partnerships improving the capacity of Welsh organisations to collaborate with international partners through further exchange.
• Addressing the barriers to participation in Taith’s Pathway 1 and increasing participation opportunities.

 

Further information

Visit the Taith.wales website or contact the Taith team on enquiries@taith.wales for more information.

CWVYS in partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales and WCIA are the Sector Organising Body for the Youth Sector in Wales, to find out more about the support offered, visit our resources page here; https://www.cwvys.org.uk/resources/ or email Helen Jones, CWVYS Communications Officer via Helen@cwvys.org.uk

It is Youth Work Week here in Wales and what better time to look back on achievements and celebrate the contribution of Youth Work to young people and Welsh communities?

Why not go one step further and put in a nomination for the Youth Work Excellence Awards!?

The Youth Work Excellence Awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding youth work projects, youth workers and those involved in youth work across Wales.

Youth work provides and facilitates an environment within which young people can relax, have fun, and feel secure, supported and valued. Through non-formal and informal educational opportunities and experiences, youth work approaches challenge young people to enhance their life chances.

The deadline for nominations for this year’s Awards has been extended to the 8th of July; https://gov.wales/youth-work-excellence-awards/nominate

Dear Members,

(With apologies for this English language-only message).

 

 

BACKGROUND

• CWVYS has been awarded a grant by the Welsh Government to assist CWVYS Members to access its ’Summer of Fun’ programme funding.
• CWVYS is responsible for the administration and receipt of applications; fund holding and payment of grants to eligible and current CWVYS Member organisations; capturing evidence of the need for the grants; plus post payment monitoring.

 

TIMING

• Please note that CWVYS has only just been informed of its success in bidding for these monies
• Because of the tight timescales involved, you are asked to note the very short deadlines with which applicants need to comply in order to be considered for a grant award

 

AIMS

This Summer of Fun programme grant programme:

• Is open to CWVYS Member organisations ONLY
• Is available up to a maximum amount of £10,000 per successful applicant
• Is available on the basis of specific, identified needs across particular geographical  areas and for specific age groups – it is therefore crucial that you assess your organisation’s eligibility by reading the attached eligibility criteria before you even consider submitting an application
• Is limited to one successful application per CWVYS Member organisation only
• Is available for projects only being delivered between 1 July to 30 September inclusive

 

HOW TO APPLY and THE PROCESS

• A A blank application form is attached for your use. It needs to be completed and returned to me by e-mail no later than 5pm on 30 June
• Successful applicants will be notified by 6 July
• Grants will be issued in advance, as a single upfront payment – and by cheque to the successful organisation. No cheques will be made payable to individuals
• The payment of grant is conditional upon you agreeing to deliver the work as applied for and also to provide an end of project form, which you will need to complete and return
• CWVYS retains the right to request the grant to be refunded if terms and conditions are not met

 

We look forward to receiving your application.

 

Best wishes

Paul Glaze| Chief Executive/Prif Weithredwr|CWVYS

Tel/Ffon: 029 2047 3498 or 07779 345703

paul@cwvys.org.uk

 

A message from Torfaen Youth Service giving some more details about their event during Youth Work Week which is featured in the Calendar here; https://www.cwvys.org.uk/event/youth-work-week-2/

 

Connect Through Cooking

Please come and join us virtually at 4pm on Friday 24^th June to connect with other young people to prepare and eat some delicious, healthy wraps.

The activity will be delivered on Microsoft Teams and through the medium of Welsh and English.

Ingredients

You will need wraps and some vegetable oil but other than that, you can choose whatever ingredients you like!
Some options are;

Cheese
Chicken
Tofu
Falafel
Peppers
Onions
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Hummus
Mushrooms
Salsa
Mayo

Feel free to adapt to suit your tastes and budgets.

What equipment will you need?

Frying pan
Spatula
Knife/s
Chopping boards
Cooking hob
Vegetable oil

Microsoft Teams link Cysylltu trwy goginio / Connect through Cooking

 

SAFETY NOTCIES

Knifes are sharp!  No running, stabbing or general chopping activity other than the ingredients. Fire is hot!  Do not touch and watch out for oil spitting. Please ensure you can do this activity safely and alongside someone responsible should you need to

YOUNG PEACEMAKERS AWARDS 2022 – LAST CHANCE TO ENTER!

The winners of these prestigious Awards will be announced during a special ceremony on 7^th July as part of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.   If you live in Wales and are aged between 5 and 25, don’t miss the opportunity to be part of these exciting Awards! 

New deadline – you have until 17^th June, 2021 to get your entries to us – creative and critical writing, artwork, performance, film, presentations on action for change.  Don’t be shy – enter today!

For more information, including details of the categories, an application form and terms and conditions go to our Young Peacemakers’ page on the WCIA website or contact centre@wcia.org.

We are so pleased at the appointment of Sharon Lovell, CEO of NYAS Cymru and CWVYS Vice-Chair as the Chair of the new Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board. This was announced by the Minister yesterday in a Written Ministerial Statement.

With the announcement of the Chair, the recruitment of board members is now underway, you can find the details on the Public Appointments webpage.

Huge congratulations from everyone at CWVYS to Sharon Lovell MBE on her appointment!

Sharon has been a wonderfully supportive Vice-Chair and Trustee of CWVYS since 2016 and we will obviously miss her expertise, total commitment, skill and good humour. However, we know that all of those qualities and more will be put to brilliantly good use in her new, important role. CWVYS looks forward to working with Sharon and the members of the Implementation Board at this very exciting time for youth work services in Wales.

Youth Work Week in Wales is fast approaching!

From the 23^rd to the 30^th of June we celebrate Youth Work’s contribution to Wales and our young people, and what better way this year than with the theme of ‘wellbeing’?

To help you get involved the Marketing and Communications team (Ellie and Branwen) have put together a bilingual resource pack. There are 5 bright images (like the one featured above) available in English and Welsh with prompts to foster wellbeing such as “Be Active” and “Keep Learning” and including this year’s hashtags; #WGI22 #YWW22 (both standing for Youth Work Week 2022 and) #LlesGI #YWWellbeing (meaning Youth Work Wellbeing).

Here you can find those images, a Youth Work Week Information Pack ENG 2022 and Ellie’s helpful PowerPoint slides which explain the resources and how you might want to use them, as well as highlighting events taking place during Youth Work Week and much more.

We hope you’ll find these resources useful and look forward to seeing you sharing your youth work stories and celebrating the week when it comes around. Don’t forget to tag @CWVYS when you’re posting on twitter, and of course @YWWales and @Addysg_Cymraeg so your stories reach far and wide.

Please let me know if you have any questions (helen@cwvys.org.uk) or feel free to get in touch with Ellie@cwvys.org.uk or Branwen@cwvys.org.uk

Summer is coming! Time for adventure on the high seas!

So walk your sea legs up our gangplank and jump aboard Challenge Wales for a life-changing experience!

Challenge Wales has scheduled a number of exciting Residential Voyages for young people – please see this poster, and check out our website.

Please note: The given cost is the maximum amount – depending upon eligibility, with our additional bursaries the cost can be GREATLY REDUCED to DOUBLE FIGURES: possibly to just £50, or even £25 per place!!

And to all Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants: this opportunity can be your Residential Section activity!

So if you know any young people who may be interested, please contact us asap and make this a summer to remember.
We look forward to welcoming you all aboard.

 

Challenge Wales Bursary Scheme Open For 14 – 25 year olds

Challenge Wales, the youth development charity which takes young people to sea is on the hunt for partner organisations and young people to tap into their bursary scheme.

Those who have previously jumped onboard one of Challenge Wales’ vessels; Challenge Wales| Wales’ Tall Ship or Adventure Wales have benefited from improved mental health, have improved teamwork and communication skills, have learnt about ocean literacy, taken part in citizen science activities, achieved their Gold DofE Residential, have learnt sailing skills, developed confidence and made new friends. Some past beneficiaries of the Challenge Wales bursary scheme have moved into work from unemployment, improved their employability prospects and had a life-changing experience. And, most of this has been made possible through the Challenge Wales bursary scheme which contributes towards the cost of the voyages.

With voyages lasting from 1 day to 7 days, the Challenge Wales bursary scheme will automatically guarantee a bursary to cover a minimum of 50% of the costs. However, for those that require more financial support then additional bursary support can often cover the majority of the voyage costs to ensure that Challenge Wales opportunities are as accessible as possible. While onboard the Challenge Wales boats, young people will learn how to run the boat, learn some sailing skills, take part in wildlife watching while being part of a team and having lots of fun – and no sailing experience is necessary to take part. And with many voyages offering Agored Cymru accreditation, and for longer voyages the newly launched John Muir Award or Gold DofE Residential, there are plenty of opportunities to join a Challenge Wales voyage and put something on your CV.

As outdoor activities, and in particular being at sea in ‘blue space’ offer significant benefits to young people, the charity is looking for partners who would want to tap into the bursary scheme, or for individuals to jump onboard while the bursary is still available during summer and autumn of 2022.

For further details contact: reservations@challengewales.org or call 029 20 704657 and speak to Laura or Kerry.

You can also find Challenge Wales on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Just search for @ChallengeWales

 

Here you can find a message from our lovely Membership and Business Support Officer Mandi;

Good afternoon to you all – our incredible and extremely valued members.

It’s been a really crazy time and we fully acknowledge that with everything that’s happened, you have been impacted in some way or another.

So as part of my role, and our recently launched business project (see brochure here), we would like to ask you just a few basic questions that would elicit important and useful information to determine any support needs.

*We recommend you have discussions with colleagues and service users to get their comments and updates before submitting your organisation’s overall responses.*

We’ve kept the questions quite open so that you can interpret as appropriate to you but if you would like further guidance, please let me know.

These are:

1. What is the most pressing issue or challenge you face as an organisation?
2. What key expertise and skillset would your staff and volunteers like to develop and/or would fill a gap/need in your organisation?
3. What are the current concerns within your community/environment that are affecting young people?
4. What are the range of interests and aspirations of young people in terms of training and employment?
5. What else would you like to get from your CWVYS Membership?

 

Please use this link to send us your responses.  It would be appreciated if you could do this by the end of July, so we can get cracking and start building plans to help you.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

’22 is to do! – So we are on the case to help you rise again, move forward and rebuild – we are stronger together.

Thank you – and have a great day 😊.

Amanda@cwvys.org.uk

Below you can see a message from the Children and Young People’s Engagement and Participation Youth Worker at the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health.

They are looking to consult with a wide range of children and young people as part of their roadshows across the 4 Nations.

They are looking for an opportunity to come and meet with children and young people to gather their voices and ideas on “The Future of Child Health”. I hope some of you will consider getting in touch with and_us@rcpch.ac.uk, particularly those of you working with groups who are not usually included in such research, people from working class backgrounds, ethnic minorities, rural communities and so on, please feel free to share.

They want to run sessions before the end of June, perhaps you could squeeze in a focus group as part of your Volunteers Week (1 – 7^th June) or your Youth Work Week (23^rd – 30^th June) activities?

I am the Children and Young People’s Engagement and Participation Youth Worker at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).

We are a UK wide charity, working to transform child health to make a difference for young patients.

Through our RCPCH &Us network, we support children, young people and families to participate in a range of activities including research, policy, training, events and creating their own solutions and raising important issues that affect children and young people’s health to influence key decision makers. This ensures that their voices remain at the heart of what we do.

We are carrying out a series of roadshows across the 4 Nations and we would really appreciate the opportunity to come and meet with children and/or young people in your setting to support them to share their voices and ideas on “The Future of Child Health”. This will include enabling them to contribute to the different programmes of work the college is currently working on:

• The State of Child Health – thinking about what keeps children and young people, healthy, happy and well including physical and mental health
• Climate change in the future – thinking about the future health of patients and the planet
• Health inequalities – supporting a new programme to develop a policy position statement and toolkit for paediatricians to help their conversations with children, young people and families , public affairs and media and communications work

The workshops will take 45-60 minutes and can be really flexible in your setting, for groups aged 7 – 25 years old (can be adapted to meet different learning/communication needs) for a group size of 10 – 35. All materials will be provided, along with some thank you goodies (pen, fluffy bug) for each participant.  We can also provide a letter of support that can be used with inspectors or funders to showcase how you have supported your children and young people to engage in a UK wide child health consultation programme.

We would share all results for your setting with you and link you to the final reports as and when they are launched.  All ideas, views and comments will be anonymised in any publications.

We would really appreciate it if you would be able support a session before the end of June as we are keen to include as many groups as possible in this consultation. We will have a consultation team in your area doing different sessions in different settings, so it would be great if we could pop into yours too.

If you would be able to support us with this consultation and/or would like to discuss this further or for additional information about the project, please do not hesitate to contact me on 07432030466 or on email and_us@rcpch.ac.uk . It would be great to be able to work with you and your children/young people to help influence and change health policy, I look forward to hearing from you in the very near future.

 

Alli Guiton

Engagement and Participation Youth Worker

RCPCH &Us

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
5-11 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8SH

Tel. 020 7092 6076 / Fax. 020 7092 6001 / Mobile.07715659795
Web: http://www.rcpch.ac.uk

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is a registered charity in England and Wales (1057744) and in Scotland (SC038299)

 

A new and exciting project to Map and Evaluate the Voluntary Youth Work Sector in Wales has been launched!

The KESS project – Mapping and Evaluating the Voluntary Youth Work Sector for Wales is a Masters by Research project conducted by the University of South Wales and funded by the European Social Fund in partnership with CWVYS. The research aims to make the voluntary youth work sector more visible and ensure their contributions are valued by all stakeholders. You may be aware that the voluntary sector is under-researched and valued in comparison to statutory services, who have an audit each year. We hope our research can change this.

To do so, we would value your contribution to our short online survey. If you are an organisation that provides voluntary youth work services for young people in Wales, please follow the link below to the survey which simply captures the nature of your organisation and the support provided to young people. Survey completion should take no more than 15 minutes. Your time and comments are greatly valued.

To start the survey, please follow the below links:

Survey in English: https://southwales.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/mapping-and-evaluating-the-voluntary-youth-work-sector-for-7

Survey in Welsh: https://southwales.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/mapio-a-gwerthuso-sector-gwaith-ieuenctid-gwirfoddol-cymru

There is also a dedicated Facebook page for the project too; https://www.facebook.com/MappingYouthWorkinWales

Please also share the survey link and information among your networks (e.g. by email or social media) – the more responses we receive the better we can represent the experiences of the sector as a whole and the young people they support.

You will find further information on the project at the beginning of the survey, however, should you have any questions or feedback on the research, please feel free to contact the researcher by email: Elizabeth.bacon@southwales.ac.uk

You can also follow this work on the following social media platforms;

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MappingYouthWorkinWales
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorkinWales
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingyouthworkinwales/

Thank you in advance for your input. With your support we hope we can deliver on bringing the change and representation the sector needs.

 

Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS 2) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.

 

Wellbeing packs for adults and young people

The British Red Cross are now offering their free Wellbeing packs in Welsh. Covering a range of topics, from resilience to building connections and managing stress, these packs are crammed with activities to develop coping skills. You can download copies here.

You may also be interested in their online wellbeing activities, teaching resources and free workshops. These are provided in English, and workshops are available online, via the telephone, and face to face in some areas.

Tackling loneliness is an opportunity to talk openly about loneliness and learn skills to recognise and support those who are feeling lonely. Adapt and recover focuses on building resilience. It’s an opportunity to reflect on challenges and identify practical and emotional skills that help when faced with a crisis. Coping with challenges is a workshop for groups of young people aged 10-19, which offers a resilience building framework to help them cope with daily challenges.

All these wellbeing resources are provided via the British Red Cross’s partnership with Aviva.

Find out more.