Regional Youth Work Unit - North East » Strategic

Network of Integrated Youth Support Services

selina — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:17:38 +0000

In November 2009, the Unit, in conjunction with Government Office North East, established the Network of Integrated Youth Support Services in the North East. The Network has been developed as a response to the changing nature of youth work and youth service delivery. The introduction of greater integration, the restruction of local authority service provision to children and young people and the changing relationship with the voluntary youth sector, created by the introduction of commissioning have presented a unique range of challenges. The Network of Integrated Youth Support Services in the North East is a positive response and development in relation to these very challenging issues.

The Network consists of two existing groups, the Local Authority Youth Work Leads Group and the Regioinal Forum for Voluntary Youth Organisations, and a new group, the Heads of Integrated Youth Support Services group. As the network develops, other regional groups involved in the delivery of services to young people will be invited to contribute to the network. The essence of the network is to:

develop a better understanding of the issues related to the introduction of integrated youth support services
share best practice and knowledge of structural and strategic issues
offer support to both managers and practitioners involved n the development and delivery to services of young people
offer support to colleagues across the region provide a regional perspective for the introduction of integrated youth support services

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Network of RYWUs: England

selina — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:40:21 +0000

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

North East Youth Research Forum

selina — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:00:56 +0000

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

North East Detached Youth Work Forum (NEDYWF)

selina — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:57:11 +0000

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