The Somerset Youth Work Alliance
We are dedicated to providing a youth offer that is high quality, accessible, and shaped by the voices of young people.
Who we are
The Somerset Youth Work Alliance is a network of youth work organisations in the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) youth work sector, facilitated by Spark Somerset.
We are working to grow the infrastructure and profile of youth work within the local area (and beyond) and support the workforce with training, guidance and opportunities to collaborate.
We are linked with local and national organisations, including the National Youth Agency, and all of our members meet the national standards in youth work practice and safeguarding.
We are proud to be a member of the Young Peoples’ Foundation, working locally, regionally and nationally to develop youth work.
The Alliance, supported by Spark Somerset, has achieved amazing things with their partnership, setting up the training programme and focusing the minds of politicians on how we support their life-enhancing, life-changing, and sometimes life-saving work.
– Cllr. Caroline Ellis
We are committed to:
- Ensuring consistently high-quality youth service provision across the county, developed and co-produced with those who use it
- Identifying and filling gaps in service provision for young people, prioritising local needs, accessibility, and inclusivity
- Building trusting and creative relationships between organisations, respecting diversity, recognising strengths, and exploring joint funding opportunities
- Sharing ideas, learning, knowledge, and resources to achieve the best outcomes for young people in the county
- Using our collective voice to highlight the impact of youth work and influence the strategic landscape for youth services
- Exploring a peer review approach to quality assurance as work progresses
- Identifying training and development needs and working with educational bodies to arrange programmes for new youth workers and providing professional development opportunities
- Promoting training and career paths in youth work to attract new professionals
Youth work training
We have developed and funded a training pathway, starting with an entry level ‘Introduction to Youth Work’ course all the way to a Level 6 Professional Youth Worker Apprenticeship, enabling volunteers and staff to develop their skills and progress in their career.
Want to get involved?
To find out more about the Somerset Youth Work Alliance or discuss joining us as a member, please get in touch.
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