Shropshire Youth celebrates National Youth Work Week 2023!
Shropshire Council’s Youth Support Service are celebrating National Youth Work Week 2023 this week (6 to 12 November) with the launch of its news Instagram account and youth survey for young people.
National Youth Week 2023
The annual Youth Work Week campaign, hosted by the National Youth Agency, aims to raise awareness of the life-changing difference youth workers have on young people aged between 8 –25 years of age. This year Youth Work Week is focussing on the breadth of youth work taking place across the country: in youth centres, hospitals, outdoor activity centres, cultural spaces and so much more.
Follow us on Instagram @shropshireyouth
Shropshire Youth Instagram offers a place to promote the work of the council’s youth service and the support they offer to young people. It will also be used to post regular events and provide an opportunity for young people to engage with our youth work team as well as share relevant information that supports young people’s personal and social development.
Throughout the week the team will be publishing a series of posts to showcase the work they do and support they offer to young people.
Follow us! QR code linking to the Shropshire Youth Instagram page
Young People’s Survey
The council’s youth support team will also be launching their youth survey. The survey will form part of the development to create a youth offer for young people in Shropshire and will ask young people how they feel about the local facilities and services in their local area. Having a good youth offer which meets the needs of young people in their communities, can reduce issues such as ASB, exploitation and substance misuse.
Having a Youth Offer will help the council to re-connect young people with their communities making sure there are sufficient leisure time and personal and social education opportunities for young people to engage with.
The youth survey was launched this week (Tuesday 7 November 2023). Deadline for feedback is Friday 1 December.
To take part visit – Shropshire Youth Survey November 2023 | Shropshire Council
Councillor Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Cabinet Member for Children and Education said:
“We know how important it is for young people to have a go to place to come together – for many it has helped them find their identity, make new friends, and have a safe space to discuss issues affecting their lives. National Youth Work Week is lovely way to congratulate both our youth support team and young people on all that they have achieved.
“This year’s theme is ‘Youth Work in Every Space and Every Place and is a good time to reflect on the impact that Youth Work can make to Young People’s Lives.
“As part of National Youth Work Week. Our Youth Support Team will be launching their Shropshire Youth Instagram account. I encourage young people or anyone who lives or works with young people to give us a follow.
“Throughout the week our Shropshire Youth Instagram page will also be celebrating our colleagues from the community and voluntary sector who provide youth work in their communities too.
“I also encourage young people and to take part in our youth survey. The survey will give us understanding of what young people need and how they feel about the communities they live in. It is critical that we hear from as many young people’s voices as we can through the questionnaire, as this will inform our Youth Offer, so please do take part and have your say!”
From bus stops to McDonalds! – Our youth support team are out and about in the community
Youth Work Week is a chance to raise awareness of the difference youth work makes to young people, providing them with somewhere to go, something fun to do, the chance to make new friends, learn new skills and receive the support of a trusted adult.
In the wake of the pandemic and with the ongoing cost of living crisis causing further decline in young people’s mental health youth workers are essential in offering vital support focused on young people’s personal wellbeing, emotional health and help improving social skills, providing a safe space for young people where they can thrive and develop, with 84% of youth work organisations providing mental health support1.
Youth work uses a distinct educational process, informed by the National Youth Work Curriculum which provides young people with a safe space to have conversations about their place in the world and the barriers they may be facing, and empowers them to challenge their circumstances and make informed choices about their lives.
Leigh Middleton, National Youth Agency Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We are delighted to see the variety of ways that youth clubs and young people are celebrating the positive impact youth work has on young people. Through the many exciting events and activities taking place this week, many of which have been co-created with the young people themselves, we hope to shine a spotlight on high quality youth work in all places and spaces across the country.”
For more information about Youth Support Week visit Youth Work Week 2023 – NYA
Further information
National Youth Agency, National Youth Sector Census: Snapshot, Spring 2023. See Figure 7: Targeted activities provided by organisations, page 14.
Read the full report at https://www.nya.org.uk/census-spring-snapshot/
https://www.nya.org.uk/census-spring-snapshot/
National Youth Agency
The National Youth Agency (NYA) is passionate about the right of every young person to be able to access the personal, social, and educational development opportunities provided by youth work.
As the professional, statutory, and regulatory body for youth work and youth services in England, it sets the occupational standards for youth work and offers accreditation for professional development, as well as access to training and CPD through its online Academy. Its Youth Work Practice Standards and Safeguarding Standards provide those delivering or commissioning youth work with a framework for youth work to ensure it is responsive to need, is being delivered by suitably qualified staff and is safe. Its National Curriculum for Youth Work sets out the educational framework for youth work.
The NYA has extensive experience of managing large complex projects and partnerships including bursary funding for youth work qualifications on behalf of the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport and the successful NatWest Thrive programme. Its annual National Youth Sector Census aims to create an accurate baseline of youth sector provision to help inform policy making, commissioning, and funding for youth work.
For further information please contact Rachel Mallon, National Youth Agency Marketing and Communications Manager, on RachelM@nya.org.uk or M: 0784 2417 016.
