A word from our Board Chair
I do hope this bulletin finds you well as we head towards Spring. It really was wonderful seeing so many youth workers and young people recently at the Youth Work Excellence Awards in Llandudno. It was fantastic that many tuned in to watch and listen live as it was being streamed across Wales via youth clubs and youth settings. Many congratulations to all the finalists and to the winners. The event really did show the diversity of youth work in Wales and how services make a difference to the lives of young people every day.
I had the pleasure of meeting many youth and community students studying at Cardiff Met recently. I discussed the work of the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board and we talked about how important policy development is in relation to the practice of youth work. I encouraged the students to engage with the work currently underway to strengthen the legislative basis for youth work.
It is so important that the next generation of youth workers shape policy and legislation to support implementation as we move forward. Connecting with the students gave me such hope – they were so passionate about the role of youth work and their ambitions were inspiring. Some challenges were shared in relation to learning and employment and I will consider this as Chair and share with the Board to ensure it helps shape our thinking.
I want to thank the sector for engaging with the work to date on developing and shaping proposals to strengthen the legislative basis for youth work and would urge you to continue to engage as we progress our thinking. Look out for details of future engagement events – there will be many!
You will have seen that a number of webinars are being held to support the work of the Implementation Participation Groups. I’d encourage you to be part of these to be updated on our work and inform progress. The next of these webinars, held in April, will focus on workforce development. Enjoy this edition and thank you for your continued commitment. 
Young Person’s Voice Celebrating Youth Work Excellence at the 2023 Awards By: Rebecca Jackson, Modern Apprentice Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales.
On the 22nd of February, I attended The Youth Work Excellence Awards at Venue Cymru, Llandudno. This event recognises and celebrates the dedication and achievements of youth workers and organisations making a positive impact on the lives of young people. I witnessed the exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication of Youth workers, highlighting their positive impact on society and inspiring others. I saw first-hand how the Awards not only honoured individual achievements but also emphasised the importance of supporting and empowering others.
My role at the Awards was to welcome visitors at a stand in the foyer representing my organisation, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales. I got the opportunity to engage with others, and meet attendees and volunteers from other organisations, and it was fantastic to see everyone engaging with each other and coming up to our stand. I was able to discuss the role of the OPCC and how we support local charities.
I was very excited when the host of the awards Mirain Iwerydd came on the stage, the room was filled with excitement. On the evening I heard the personal stories of those who are supported by the nominated youth workers and the youth workers themselves, highlighting to me the importance of their role within their communities. When the awards event itself started everyone was treated to a lovely dinner, this was also another opportunity for me to meet more people and I had an amazing time finding out more about the youth work sector.
I felt a sense of great happiness for the winners of each category and each and every one of the nominees deserved the recognition these awards gave. I had the opportunity to reflect on the transformative power of youth work and the invaluable role it plays in shaping the future generation. At the end of the evening, singer Bettie J Williams performed on the stage, it was a very moving experience to see and hear her songs touching on subjects such as refugee rights.
I had the privilege of seeing how each of the categories reflected the diverse nature of youth work, highlighting the importance of collaboration, innovation, and advocacy in creating positive outcomes for young people. Each nominee showed their dedication and impact in the youth work sector.
Mirain Iwerydd, BBC Radio Cymru Presenter and Host of the Youth Work Excellence Awards commented, “It was such a pleasure to be here at the Youth Work Excellence Awards 2023, being able to celebrate the remarkable achievements of everyone and to have the feeling in the room of celebrating every single person that works in the youth work sector in Wales.”
Working Together in Youth Work Celebrating Excellence: 2023 Youth Work Awards Winner Announced
The Youth Work Excellence Awards are a chance to recognise and celebrate the outstanding youth work taking place across Wales. The awards reflect the diverse nature of youth work in Wales and demonstrate the impact youth work and youth workers have on young people and their surrounding communities.
The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles said: “Youth work plays a vital role in providing young people with safe and inclusive environments where they are supported to reach their full potential. It’s inspiring to see the many excellent examples of youth work being recognised in this year’s awards. People and organisations working together to ensure Wales is a place where every child, young person and family can prosper.”
The Welsh Government will provide £13m of direct funding this year to help ensure local authorities and voluntary youth work organisations support young people in their local areas. This funding has trebled since 2018, reflecting the vital role it plays in supporting young people to reach their potential.
The full list of winners was announced at the Welsh Government’s Youth Work Excellence Awards, on 22nd February at Venue Cymru in Llandudno: Demonstrating excellence in partnership planning and delivery at a local level – Her Voice Wales, Vale Youth Service Demonstrating excellence in partnership planning and delivery at a regional or national level – Urdd Gobaith Cymru Digital innovation – Cardiff Content Creators, Cardiff Council Equality and diversity in a youth work setting – Peer Action Collective Cymru, Media Academy Cymru Leadership – Jo Sims, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Outstanding youth worker – Kelly Powell, YMCA Swansea Outstanding volunteer in a youth work setting – Molly Fenton, The Love your Period Campaign Rising star – Dominique Drummond, NYAS Cymru Welsh language innovation – GISDA
More information about the winners and finalists can be found here: https://www.gov.wales/youth-work-excellence-awards/winners-and-finalists/2023-awards
Watch the livestream of the awards ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmvzPX_8btQ
Welsh Government Youth Work News Implementation Participation Groups: Join the conversation Five Implementation Participation Groups were established last year to support the work of the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board
These groups are looking in depth at the following areas: Strategic Engagement and Communications Youth Information and Digital Welsh Language Young People are Thriving Workforce Development Each group is chaired by a Board member and is considering evidence and advising on next steps in the development of the interim board’s recommendations. You can find out more about the groups here. We would like to invite further expressions of interest to join these groups. If you are interested in becoming an IPG member, please email youthwork@gov.wales for more information. The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday 12 April 2024.
Engaging with young people – an exciting opportunity! One of the key aspects that the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board’s ‘Young People are Thriving’ Implementation Participation Group (IPG) is focusing on is the development of a young person led governance model. Some examples of different models were shared at the webinar in January 2023 (recording to be shared soon). We are now aiming to bring together a group of young people from across Wales for a residential session during August 2024 to look at this in more detail to better understand how they are involved in decision making, what works well and what are the barriers.
We would like to appoint an organisation (or partnership of organisations) to take responsibility for co-ordination and delivery of this residential session, working closely with the Young People are Thriving IPG to design the content of this session. If you are interested in finding out more about this, please email youthwork@gov.wales.
Developing highly skilled Youth Workers for the young people of Wales 5 April 2024,1-3pm This webinar is presented by the Workforce Development Implementation Participation Group, one of five groups established to support the work of the Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board. As part of the ongoing work to consider, develop and implement the recommendations the Interim Youth Work Board made in their final report `Time to deliver for young people in Wales’, as an IPG, we recognise the need to better understand where there is a need for further work to help the workforce to develop.
This is essential to ensure that we have a highly skilled workforce that can meet the increasingly complex and changing needs of young people across Wales. As with most professions, Youth Work in Wales is facing unprecedented challenges with recruitment and retention of Youth Workers, and members of the IPG are working hard in developing strategies to address these issues. By taking part in the webinar, you will be able to hear first-hand on the initiatives that are being developed and will have an opportunity to ask questions and we would welcome ideas.
The Webinar will consist of: An insight into the work of the IPG Audience engagement sessions on: –
Is the current workforce delivery model is fit for purpose?
Where could workforce development funds be allocated?
How can we promote Youth Work as a career option?
We hope you can join us for two hours of engaging conversation with IPG members – if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in advance upon booking.
Presenters include: Jo Sims, Blaenau Gwent Youth Service –
Chair of the Workforce Development IPG
Steve Drowley, Chair of ETS Cymru Wales
Emma Chivers, Youth Work Consultant
Darryl White, Workforce Development Officer
Donna Robins, Welsh Government Youth Engagement Branch
We welcome those involved in youth work in Wales who are interested in learning more and contributing to this discussion. Sign up free today: https://lu.ma/lmkr04fv Welsh to English and BSL interpretation will be available on the day.
Welsh Government Mental health and wellbeing strategy and Suicide and self-harm prevention strategy Welsh Government would like to invite you to help shape our future strategies for mental health and wellbeing, and suicide and self-harm prevention in Wales. It has been 10 years since our previous strategies were published and we have now published the new Welsh Government Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Strategies for Wales for a 16 week public consultation. The consultation will close on 11 June 2024. Please click on the below links to access more information: Mental health and wellbeing strategy consultation Suicide and self-harm prevention strategy
There are resources available to support you to have group discussions about the strategies. These engagement packs will provide information for you to talk with others to support them to develop their own responses to the consultations. There are adult and young person resources available.
Please contact the Mental Health and Vulnerable Groups Mailbox to request engagement packs for the strategies. If you work with children and young people and you would like an engagement pack or support to run a session on the new strategies, please contact mhstrategy@copronet.wales It is important to us that feedback reflects the diversity of our population so please feel free to share this link with others. Help and support for your own mental health. If you need support with your mental health, you can ring the CALL Helpline: 0800 132 737. 
NEST Framework The NEST framework is a framework supporting organisations to work together to provide joined up mental health and wellbeing support for babies, children and young people. The NEST framework provides a set of key principles that closely align to core youth work values, and youth workers are names as important and valued trusted adults within young people’s lives.
In order to support organisations to use the NEST framework, Welsh Government have co-produced NEST training (two 30 minute sessions to be completed at a time convenient for you) and a NEST self-assessment tool with young people. The self-assessment is a reflective tool for teams to use to embed the key principles of NEST in their work and to reach out to other partners to make sure they are working together to build a ‘whole system’ of support for their young people.
We are looking for youth work organisations to use the self-assessment tool and feedback on their experience. Feedback provided may also be used as an example of good practice to be shared nationally with other services as well as with Ministers. If you are interested in taking up this opportunity to provide feedback on these resources, please email youthwork@gov.wales.
Within Wales Young Voices Shape Children’s Charter
Conwy Youth Service recently collaborated with the CAMHS Patient Experience team to create a Children’s Charter for the health board.
Young people within the clubs actively contributed their thoughts and ideas playing a vital role in designing the document.
The goal of this collaboration was to empower young people to share their perspectives and contribute meaningfully to shaping the Children’s Charter.
By actively engaging young people, the Children’s Charter can better reflect their needs and aspirations. Their designs will be showcased on the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCU) webpages and incorporated into their communication channels.
Becca Lloyd, CAMHS Participation and Engagement Administrator, expressed sincere gratitude to both the youth workers and the young participants:
“We truly enjoyed working with everyone, and we’re incredibly proud of the collage created using the young people’s amazing artwork. This will be displayed prominently on the Children’s Charter webpage. Thanks to all involved!”
Around the World Celebrating 100 Years of Peace Advocacy: The Urdd’s 2024 Message 
This year’s Peace and Goodwill message will celebrate the centenary of Welsh women’s remarkable 1923-24 Peace Petition, highlighting the need to advocate for peace a hundred years on.
A century ago, on the 19th of February 1924, the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition chest was opened with its 390, 296 signatures inside in front of 600 US women at the Baltimore Hotel in New York.
The petition was an act of hope for world peace and its story has inspired the Urdd to encourage a group of young women to come together to create this year’s Peace and Goodwill message. The message emphasises the importance of taking action and persistently advocating for peace. It asserts that atrocities, wars, and violence must be stopped and that cooperation, passion and hope are the driving forces that can lead towards a better future.
The 2024 Peace and Goodwill message Workshop: A women-led workshop at the Cardiff Urdd Centre prepared the 2024 Peace Message. Led by Elan Evans and Casi Wyn, they discussed peace and the Welsh women’s 1923-24 petition. Special guests like Mererid Hopwood inspired the young women who shaped the message calling for peace, cooperation and hope. The message will appear in video form on the Urdd’s social media on 17 May 2024. Please support this important campaign. 
No Hate Speech Week 17 – 20 June 2024
The call for participants for the first edition of the No Hate Speech Week, is now open. The week is organised around 18 June, International Day for Countering Hate Speech, and will take place in Strasbourg from 17-20 June 2024.
The No Hate Speech Week aims to provide a space to exchange on recent legal and policy developments and good practices of implementation, innovations and foster synergies between key partners in field of combating hate speech. The presence of different stakeholders provides networking opportunities that can enable a comprehensive and multi-stakeholder approach to preventing and combating hate speech in the member states.
How to apply to this call All candidates must apply by filling in the application form available here – https://forms.office.com/e/trUANeVtXC The application form must be submitted on-line by 1 April 2024, 23.59 CET. For further information, please contact Stefan Manevski at anti-discrimination@coe.int
Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales
The Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales is a unique tool for youth work 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.
Over the last three years the Education Workforce Council (EWC) has held the contract to run the Quality Mark on behalf of the Welsh Government. During this time we have seen many new organisations successfully apply for the Quality Mark, and they have told us how rewarding the process has.
Following the recent re-tender of the contract, we can now announce that EWC have again been successful in bidding for this work. For more information about the Quality Mark, and how you can apply click here!
Quality Mark Awards Congratulations to all who have received or renewed their QMYW recently. It’s great to see all your hard work paying off and being recognised.
Bronze: Promo Cymru Urban Circle Swansea MAD Youth Cymru
Silver: Prince’s Trust Youth Cymru YMCA Swansea Cardiff Youth Services
Gold: Neath Port Talbot Youth Services Caerphilly Youth Services
EWC Exceeds Expectations in Youth Work Quality
The Education Workforce Council (EWC) is proud to announce the success of the Youth Work Quality Mark initiative. The project, while challenging has demonstrably improved quality assurance in Welsh youth work. An evaluation report highlights the EWC’s exceeding of initial contract expectations. Through collaboration with partners and youth professionals, the EWC has successfully embedded the Quality Mark within the sector. The EWC remains committed to promoting the Quality Mark as a symbol of excellence and looks forward to continued success through ongoing collaboration and inspiration. The evaluation reports are available to download in English. English –https://www.ewc.wales/site/index.php/en/accreditation/the-quality-mark-for-youth-work-in-wales
Have you Heard?
Free Training Courses for Youth Work practitioners in Wales! Education Training Standards (ETS) is offering a variety of free training courses for Youth Work practitioners in Wales. Whether you’re interested in improving your mental health and wellbeing skills, learning about sexual health in the community or exploring supervision in a youth work context, there’s a course for you. For more information and to register for a course, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/professional-learning-for-youth-workers-2884249 If you have any questions about the training, or would like to suggestions for training, please contact us at: ets@wlga.gov.uk or message them on social media.
Free Training to achieve your Level 3 qualification in youth Work!
You may be eligible for free training to achieve your Level 3 qualification in youth work. This applies to you if you are currently working with young people within a youth work organisation and do not have the Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice, or if you are currently registered with EWC with a Level 2 qualification which will mean that from 31 May 2025 you are no longer able to maintain your registration – for more information click here.
To access free training throughout 2024, register your interest by contacting Education Training Standards (ETS) Wales through this email address ets@wlga.gov.uk or by submitting an expression of interest here.
The funding for this training is part of Welsh Governments commitment to helping support the training and development needs of youth work practitioners. Other training will be available throughout the year and you can keep yourself up to date with opportunities by registering with ETS.
Leading in Welsh: The Journey to 2050 Leading in Welsh: The Journey to 2050 conference on Wednesday 1 May 9am-4pm in Venue Cymru, Promenade, Llandudno, LL30 1BB.
The conference is designed for headteachers and senior leaders from schools, the youth work sector and the post compulsory education and training sector. The conference will offer educational leaders from all settings the opportunity to celebrate their successes in developing the Welsh language in their organisations and explore the next steps to realise the ambition of one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
Featuring: Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, Chief Executive, Mudiad Meithrin
Dr Myfanwy Jones, Director, Mentrau Iaith
Angharad Lloyd Beynon, Policy, Stakeholder and Partnerships Manager (Nations), City & Guilds Group
Professor Mererid Hopwood, Professor of Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth University
Natalie Jones, Education Content Executive, S4C
Efa Gruffudd Jones, Welsh Language Commissioner
This conference will be through the medium of Welsh, but live translation will be available. Free, registration essential. Leading in Welsh: The Journey to 2050 – National Leadership Wales (nael.cymru)
WLGA Skills and Training Surveys Coming Soon! The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) will be sending surveys to Youth Work practitioners and Youth Work Organisation leads to gather as much information about the training needs within the sector, to enable us to deliver training where it is needed the most. The survey is currently being piloted with two organisations.
More information will follow in March. keep an eye on our website for updates: www.wlga.gov.uk
EWC Launches Draft Plan Consultations The Education Workforce Council (EWC) have launched two consultations seeking views on their draft Strategic Plan 2024-27 and Strategic Equality Plan 2024-28. These key documents set out the priorities and direction of travel for the organisation.
You can provide your feedback now.
The closing date for responses is 12:00 Monday 25 March 2024.
Accreditation and Inspection – the Perfect Relationship? The Education Workforce Council (EWC) have teamed up with Estyn to write a blog about how Quality Mark for Youth Work accreditation can complement inspection. Read what Andrew Borsden (EWC) and Paul O’Neill (Estyn) have to say in the blog on the EWC website.
EWC Good Practice Guides The Education Workforce Council (EWC) have updated their suite of good practice guides to reflect emerging trends and best practice from across the education landscape. They offer registrants guidance covering various subject matters, from addressing peer-on-peer sexual harassment and tackling racism, to positive working relationships, using social media responsibly and mental health and wellbeing. The guides have been developed to complement the Code of Professional Conduct and Practice which sets out the standards expected of registrants. The guides can be found on the EWC’s website.
Spring 2024 National Network Conversation: Equity and Inclusion Online Event
This online National Network Conversation will focus on supporting practitioners to reflect on how Curriculum for Wales can support equity and inclusion, overcoming barriers that can limit learner progression, and ensuring the education of all learners is seen as having equal importance throughout the 3-16 continuum.
Tuesday 23rd April 9:15am – 12:30pm Spring 2024 National Network Conversation: Equity and inclusion | Freshwater (eventscase.com)
Educators Wales Educators Wales (funded by the Welsh Government and delivered by the Education Workforce Council) is the go-to website for those posting the latest job opportunities. Free of charge for youth work organisations posting your advert on Educators Wales can save you £1000’s each year. To find out more and set up your employer profile, visit the website today.
Be Part of the Youth Work Newsletter 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 #YouthWorkWales#GwaithIeuenctidCymru when tweeting to raise the profile of Youth Work in Wales. 
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