|
Question
1 - What are your
views on young people’s access to youth work services,
including, for example:
- levels of
provision across Wales and any regional variation;
- issues relating
to access for specific groups of young people e.g. language,
disability, rurality, ethnicity.
|
|
|
We are aware
across Wales a number of Local Authorities have removed their
universal provision of Youth Services in favour of delivering a
targeted provision due to funding reductions. In some instances
this has been seen as benefitting partner agencies or departments
as some services have been aligned to maximise resources. In
some cases this has led to services being more targeted but YMC are
of the opinion that a properly resourced Youth Service working in
partnership, can by providing a universal offer, as well as
targeted interventions, impact on the prevention of young people
entering the criminal justice system in the first place. As
it is, whenever community-based youth work is reduced, the
possibility of young people requiring more costly services
increases. Another impact is that young people affected by
poverty, have their opportunities diminished which in turn
threatens their ability to reach their full potential.
|
|
|
If you believe that there are particular
problems, how do you think they could be resolved?
|
|
|
By providing a properly resourced Youth Service,
that is underpinned by Extending Entitlement, and that enables it
to work in a complementary fashion with services.
The skills of youth workers at engaging young
people in a universal setting is an important factor when planning
for reintegration within their communities from a multi-agency
Youth Justice Service position, as they enhance the offer to young
people.
It would be helpful if Welsh Government
Departments united to provide a funding resolution for services
that work side by side, so that one is not ‘robbing Peter to
pay Paul’ and setting services at odds with each other,
rather than promoting collaboration for the benefit of young
people.
|
|
Question 2
- How effective do
you think the Welsh Government strategy and policy on youth work
is?
In
considering this question you may wish to think about:
-
the Welsh Government’s specific youth work policy and
strategy such as ‘The Youth Work offer’; The Wales
Charter for Youth Work; The National Youth Work Strategy for Wales
2014 to 2018;
-
Welsh Government departmental responsibilities and whether there is
a cross-departmental and co-ordinated approach to support youth
work provision.
|
|
|
This relates to the statement above in that it
would be helpful if Welsh Government Departments united to provide
a funding resolution for services that enables agencies to work
side by side such as Youth Services and Youth Justice Service,
particularly in relation to provision of targeted
interventions.
We welcome the Youth Service providing Young
People the opportunity to gain awards and accreditation for the
work they undertake with the Youth Service. However, we would urge
the Welsh Government to ensure that these awards and/or
qualifications are incorporated into the new National Qualification
Framework therefore making these recognised in the wider
community.
|
|
|
How do you think the Welsh Government could
approach its youth work strategy and policy differently / to better
effect?
|
|
|
·
By connecting its various policy
areas and being more strategic in its deployment of
funds
·
By facilitating access to research,
peer mentoring and sharing opportunities, meaningful contributions
to emerging policy, etc.
·
YOT Managers Cymru would welcome
closer working relationships with Principal Youth Officers group so
as to develop synergy between the two operational methods and
delivery for the benefit of the shared cohort/individual
·
Welsh Government work with their
colleagues in Education to ensure both strands of work are aligned
|
|
|
Question 3
- What are your
views on the funding available for youth work, including through
Local Authority, Welsh Government, European Union, and Third
Sector.
|
|
|
The funding for
youth work seems fragmented as the RSG allocation varies from
council to council. This is difficult when seen in isolation
but when one looks at the bigger picture e.g. what is happening to
other young people’s services such as Youth Justice, then
unconnected funding decisions pose a significant risk. Often
at local authority level, services are combining to survive funding
reductions, and although there is always scope to review practice
and costs, there is a risk that in the desperation to find
efficiencies, services become so streamlined that young people
suffer most.
The funding
picture gets more complex with ESF factored in, as the bureaucracy
attached to it can mean that funding for delivery is reduced.
The parameters are often so strict as to restrict creativity and
although the funding does provide opportunities, it is not without
its issues. Young people within the Youth Justice Service
often benefit from the delivery of ESF projects delivered by the
Youth Service e.g. work on supporting young people who are NEET.
However, sometimes the volume of required paperwork can seem so
onerous that it can appear like the pressure is to put a tick in a
box rather than addressing the needs of the young person and can
exclude some young people from accessing the service and
flexibility with the funding.
The Third Sector
in Wales is undergoing the same challenges as local authority Youth
Services and there needs to be investment in infrastructure if the
Third Sector, especially small to medium enterprises, are able to
deliver effectively. Quality should remain paramount in the
delivery of any services for young people.
|
|
|
If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
|
|
|
·
Grants need to be for longer than 1
year and linked to a comprehensive strategy.
·
It needs to be clear which
funds/strategies can be accessed by the Youth Service and Youth
Justice Services e.g. Pupil Deprivation Grant, 14-19, Curriculum
for Wales, Engagement and Progression Framework, Families First,
etc.
·
One MIS for all so that reports can
be run in an instant and everyone is comparing like for like and
therefore improved performance management
·
Replacement for ESF needs to be
identified sooner than later.
·
Time and resources are required to
build/re-build capacity into the Third Sector
|
|
Question 4
– Are there any
other issues you consider relevant to the Inquiry that you think
the Committee should be made aware of?
(for
example: workforce related issues; the Quality Mark for Youth Work
in Wales; buildings and infrastructure; youth work in schools;
transport issues; access to digital technology; Welsh
Government’s consultation on proposals to register and
inspect some out of school education settings).
|
|
|
Due to the
significant reductions in budgets for Youth Work across England and
Wales, there is a risk that people begin to avoid pursuing Youth
Work as a career, which would be a great loss, especially to young
people. Youth Work has a long history and should be celebrated and
maintained. The registration of Youth Workers from
1st April 2017 will help with acknowledging the role of
Youth Work however more clarity and detail regarding accountability
attached to registration and registration for the Third Sector
needs to be provided. The challenge for the Youth Service is to
adapt to the potential forthcoming changes.
Within Youth
Justice, its multi-disciplinary focus requires a range of
professionals to work together; which includes effective
partnership working with Youth Service colleagues. Different
professions and different approaches create opportunities and
services to meet the varied and diverse needs of young
people.
|
|
|
Question
5 - If you had to
make one recommendation to the Welsh Government from all the points
you have made, what would that recommendation be?
|
|
To ensure that there is alignment between the
clarity of registration of youth workers (including 3rd
sector) and the National Youth Work strategy.
There needs to be more specialist focus from
youth services on youth justice support, working with, instead of
replacing or adopting responsibilities.
|