Apr

16

Principal Youth Officer (PYO) group

Local Authority / What we do / Youth Work

The PYO group has been an intrinsic part of the Unit since its inception in 1989. The group supports all PYOs in the North East, and is now a key point of contact for a range of partners including Government Office and other regional stakeholders as well as national organisations such as the NYA and APYCO. The Unit acts as an information gathering and dissemination point for PYOs, and we have compiled regional information on operational and strategic issues affecting PYOs in the region. The group has developed as a support mechanism for colleagues: a safe place to talk and discuss issues, concerns and new ideas.

The PYO group is particularly relevant for colleagues in the current climate of change. Youth services are going through a period of very significant change, as serivces become more integrated within Children’s Trust. The development of Integrated Youth Support Services and Targetted Youth Support are creating significant challenges for senior managers in local authority youth services. The regional PYO group is an opportunity for colleagues to share information and develop understanding in relation to these very significant changes.

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Apr

09

Network of RYWUs: England

Strategic / What we do / Youth Work

The Unit is a founding member of the Network of RYWU: England. The Network was established in May 2008 and includes eight of the nine English regions. The key purpose of the Network is for the promotion and support of RYWUs in developing youth work and services to young people. The Network supports and strengthens the capacity of the RYWUs, and promotes the development of best practice amongst Units in the English regions. The Network works with a number of key national partners including the NYA, APYCO, NCVYS, NCVCCO, and central government.

Terms of Reference

The Network is open to all independent units/bodies that take on the role of Regional Youth Work Units (RYWUs) in the English regions.

The key purpose is to create a national network for the promotion and support of Regional Youth Work Units in developing youth work and services to young people.

The Network will:

  • Support and strengthen the capacity of RYWUs, and promote the development of best practice amongst RYWUs in all English regions
  • Enable RYWUs to work collaboratively on youth work practice, and services to young people in the regions, without compromising the independence of individual units
  • Provide a national voice for RYWUs and ensure that RYWUs play an active role in debates and consultations on national youth policy developments affecting youth work and young people
  • Identify potential opportunities for collaboration between RYWUs in securing
    national and European funding for regional developments
  • Increase the opportunities for young people’s voice and influence in youth policy development, cross-regionally and nationally and internationally
  • Establish England-wide working relationships with other national organisations with an interest in promoting youth work and services for young people. (e.g. APYCO, NYA, NCVYS, NCVCCO)
  • Organise and/or co-ordinate joint activities/events with RYWUs and other partners on specific issues relating to the enhancement of youth work practice
  • Regularly review the working arrangements of the network.departments
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Apr

09

North East Youth Research Forum

Strategic / What we do

Research is a vital part of assessing and developing good youth work practice. The Unit has carried out a number of research projects in the region, and has worked with a range of professional and academic partners to progress a greater understanding of youth work and youth services. In 2007, the Unit became a founding member of the North East Youth Research Forum. The forum is currently made up of colleagues from the Universities of Newcastle, Northumbria, Durham, Sunderland and Teeside as well as a representative from the Unit. As the group develops, we will be expanding membership to give a broader representation from youth services, as well as the academic institutions.

Terms of Reference for the North East Youth Research Forum

1.      Promote research networks between individuals, organisations and institutions that are interested in young people, youth issues and working with young people in the North East of England.

2.      Encourage greater use of youth research by policy-makers, managers and practitioners working with young people

3.      Increase awareness of the variety of types and approaches to research, including peer research by and with young people, practitioner, evaluation and participatory research

4.      Promote the development of ‘research-minded’ practice in work with young people

5.      Identify the future research needs in the North East, including topics for future research, possibilities for improving support, dissemination, information sharing through the web, seminars, learning sets and so on

6.      Explore possibilities for regional-level research collaboration

Group Members:

Professor Sarah Banks and Ms Jean Spence, School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University

Dr Tracy Shildrick, University of Teeside Youth Research Group

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Apr

09

North East Detached Youth Work Forum (NEDYWF)

Strategic / What we do

The North East Detached Youth Work Forum was setup in 1980 and was originally known as North East Regional Detached Organisation (NERDO). Its aims at that time were to provide support to workers, challenge the establishment of single worker posts, and information sharing. NERDO was heavily involved in the establishment of the National Federation for Detached Youth Work, which took place as a result of workers expressing unhappiness about the role the National Youth Agency had previously played in supporting detached work.

The Regional Youth Work Unit was approached in May 2005 by the North East Detached Youth Work Forum, with a view to the Regional Unit taking on a role facilitating the Forum. This was agreed and the Unit now carries out administrative and organisational functions for the Forum. Over the past year, the mailing list has trebled in size and the Forum now meets bimonthly in Durham and Gateshead. In November 2005, a hugely successful conference was held at Mount Oswald Golf Course in Durham, attracting over 60 delegates from across the region. A second regional conference is being planned for October 2006, which will also include the Forum’s Annual General Meeting.

In June 2006, a planning day was held at the Regional Youth Work Unit to carry out the planning and development which would put the Forum on a stronger footing and enable it to become more than just an information sharing network. Small sub-groups agreed to carry out work on the history of the Forum, membership and constitution of the group, marketing and publicity, and training.

For more details about the North East Detached Youth Work Forum, contact Sarah Warren from Walker YMCA on 0191 276 5327 or at walkerymca@yahoo.co.uk

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Mar

13

Youth in Action programme

International Youth Work / What we do / Youth Work

Youth in Action

The Youth in Action Programme provides mobility projects and opportunities for young Europeans. It also promotes the development of good quality national and local initiatives involving young people.

Youth in Action is operated by the European Commission and administrated by the National Authorities and National Agencies.

Programme Guide

Youth for Europe Action 1

Whether it is a youth exchange with another Programme country, a youth inititive or a youth democracy project; Youth for Europe aims to help youth groups experience other cultures.

PLEASE NOTE as of 1st January 2010, one sided funding has been introduced.  All applications must be made by the Host partner.

European Voluntary Service – Action 2

The European Voluntary Service allows young people to experience Europe, while making a difference by volunteering in one of the many placements across Europe.

Youth In The World

NEW within the Programme, Youth in the World offers the opportunity of working with countries which are not part of the Programme or neighbouring nations in what it used to be known as Partner Countries.

Youth Support Systems – Action 4

This part of the Programme helps youth workers to develop and share the best practice available across all Actions. Its aim is to offer you support and assistance when designing and delivering good quality projects funded by Youth in Action

Support for European Cooperation

The aim of this NEW Action is to contribute in the promotion of European cooperation in the youth field.

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Mar

13

International Youth Opportunities North East (IYONE)

International Youth Work / What we do / Youth Work

The North East has, for many years, promoted and supported international opportunities for young people in the region. A significant contributor to this work has been the Regional International Youth Committee, based at the Regional Youth Work Unit North East. For over ten years the committee has operated as the regional coordinator of the Connect Youth Programme in the North East, acting on behalf of the British Council. The committee has also overseen youth exchange opportunities to countries outside of Europe including China, Japan and America. In April 2007, the role of regional coordinator with the British Council came to an end. As a result of this change, the committee carried out a wide ranging review of the current and future role of the committee. The outcome of this redevelopment work is the establishment of International Youth Opportunity North East (IYONE).

IYONE is made up of the current members of the Regional International Youth Committee and a number of new colleagues from local and regional organisations. IYONE will continue and expand the work of the existing committee and will build on the many years of experience which has been developed in the field of international work with young people

IYONE is made up from members from both the statutory and voluntary youth sector and supports any youth groups in the North East who may be interested in international opportunities. In the coming months IYONE will be promoting and supporting new international opportunities for young people in the region. We will be providing information days, training for staff working with young people and support for groups with new applications for funding.

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