Youth work strategy implementation board meeting: 23 January 2025

• Sharon Lovell (SL) (Chair)
• Marco Gil-Cervantes (MG)
• Shahinoor Alom (SA)
• Deb Austin (DA)
• David Williams (DW)
• Sian Elen Tomos (ST)
• Lowri Jones (LJ)
• Dareth Edwards, Senior Youth Strategy Work Manager, Welsh Government (DaE)
• Kirsty Harrington, Youth Work Policy Manager, Welsh Government (KH)
• Tom Kitschker, Youth Engagement Branch Team Support Officer, Welsh Government (TK)
• Victoria Allen, Youth Work Policy Manager, Welsh Government (VA)
• Jo Trott, Deputy Director of Learner Pathways, Welsh Government (JT)

Apologies

• Simon Stewart (SS)
• Dyfan Evans (DE)
• Joanne Sims (JS)

Conflicts of interest

None declared.

Previous Board meeting minutes and action points

The Board reviewed the minutes and action points from the last meeting held on 27 November 2024.

Action: Officials agreed to circulate the report from the young person’s residential held in August 2024. 

The YWEA were paused in 2024 to allow time to review the effectiveness of the current model and the extent to which it met Welsh Government’s agreed communications objectives. DA and KH presented evidence from the sector and wider stakeholders gathered in December 2024 to better understand the success of the current model and views on how it could be improved, which included the following points. 

• A call for guidance and training for applicants to improve the quality of nominations
• Consideration of a two-stage process requiring applicants to get initial feedback on their basic idea before committing time to a full application
• The need to take action to help ensure a greater range of nominees, this would address geographical ‘cold spots’ and support nominations from a wider field of organisations
• A need to address the significant resources (time and financial) required to deliver the awards.
• A call for a more fundamental role for young people in the delivery of the awards.

Based on this feedback and wider considerations of impact and cost, DA/KH have developed a number of different options for the Board’s consideration. 

Board members noted that the YWEA are highly valued by the sector and an invaluable mechanism for celebrating excellence and sharing best practice. 

The proposal to create opportunities for young people in a future model was well received with a suggestion that this could be enhanced further through opportunities for accredited training. 

The views of the Board will shape a way forward alongside wider considerations of value for money, sustainability and impact.

Action: Board members were invited to consider and provide feedback on the options presented.

The consultation on proposals to strengthen the legislative basis for youth work closed on 10 January. Officials provided an update on the range of responses received. 

Though detailed analysis was still underway, officials shared key messages and themes that emerged from an initial analysis.

Board members were pleased with the number of responses received and the continued engagement from all parts of the sector. Members were also pleased to receive responses from outside the sector, highlighting the value placed on youth work by wider practitioners. 

Officials set out the key priorities for this work over the coming months. The aim is to complete the analysis by the end of January. The Legislation Taskforce in place to inform the development of these proposals will be reconvened to consider the responses and provide advice on any issues arising. Officials will also arrange follow up discussions with key stakeholders where required.

Budget overview

Officials gave an update on the Youth Support Grant for 2025 to 2028, noting that whilst the total grant allocation had been protected, allocations on a local authority will vary given the data-driven nature of the calculation of these allocations.

The recent results of the Strategic Voluntary Youth Work Organisation grant have also now been shared with all applicants. The funding round was highly competitive with over 45 applications, 17 of which were successful. The funding will be allocated to the successful applicants over a 3-year funding cycle from 2025 to 2028.

Update on potential national body

The Cabinet Secretary for Education met with Principal Youth Officer Group in December 2024 to hear their views on the potential establishment of a national body for youth work in Wales. A similar meeting with be held with representatives from the voluntary sector in March. The Cabinet Secretary has been clear that the establishment of a national body would need to be shown to radically enhance the delivery of front-line services to young people.

Youth work conference

The youth work conference will be held on 20 February in Cardiff City Stadium. Demand has been high with over 370 participants registered. The theme of this year’s conference is collaboration and partnership. 

Date and suggested focus of the next Board meeting: 20 March 2025

• Update on the potential establishment of a national body for youth work
• Update on the priority tasks of the Implementation Participation Groups
• Feedback and review of the youth work conference