Youth Service
Youth work staff are deployed in the heart of the community in youth projects and centres throughout County Durham.
The aim of the Youth Service is to enable teenagers to learn, achieve and realise their potential.
The Youth Service in County Durham has 3 core values:
The promotion of equality and diversity and the challenging of all forms of oppression and prejudice.
Participation based on a voluntary relationship with young people, in which they are partners in the learning process and decision-making structures.
To be available to all young people because they are young people not because they have been labelled or categorised as deviant.
Through its programmes and activities the Youth Service creates opportunities for personal and social development empowering young people to take control of their lives. High quality youth work contributes to the well-being and the well becoming of young people.
To ensure these outcomes are achieved youth workers are required to provide programmes that are educative and promote equality of opportunity, are participative and empowering and are fun, challenging and exciting.
Young people who engage with the Youth Service are encouraged to express views and opinions, participate in decision-making and in the governance of the Youth Service. This process begins at project level and can be achieved through a Young People’s committee, a focus group or informal discussions.
The service also has a framework for participation that includes area groups and a county and service wide “Youth Voice” group. Young people are given the opportunity and are encouraged to contribute to the Youth Service Plan.
The Youth Work curriculum is identified in five broad areas.
- Being Healthy – Keeping young people in good shape
- Being Safe – Protection from harm and neglect
- Enjoying and achieving – Getting the most out of life
- Making a positive contribution – Being involved with community and society
- Economic Well-Being – Being included and realising potential
Most projects are established in identified geographical areas. Other projects have been established which target young people because of their circumstances, for example: disability, social exclusion, gender. The Youth Service also supports projects that allow young people to access particular aspects of the curriculum; these include drama, dance and sport.
Successful informal education requires a flexible approach, needs are met by the provision of a range of delivery in a variety of settings working with different groups of young people. These include:
Youth Centres, Youth Clubs, Detached Work, Mobile Projects, Outreach Work & School Based Work.
Pedagogy – The youth Service is concerned with providing opportunities for experiential learning and the ability to reflect upon and understand learning that has taken place. This is achieved through:
Groupwork
International work
Training
Drama
Conferences
Community projects
Skill development
Youth Forums /councils/task groups
Information, advice and guidance
Residential work
Outdoor education
Discussion groups
Sport
Peer Education
Risk Assessment
Team games
Recruitment and selection
Work experience and volunteering
Project work
Programme planning
Award programmes
Music
Research
Problem solving
Fundraising
Information technology
Educational trips and visits
Monitoring and assessment - The learning and achievements of participants are recognised and accredited. National programmes, specifically Duke of Edinburgh Award and Youth Achievement Awards, are available to all participants aged 14+. In addition, the Education in the Community award is available to all participants and is used as a stepping-stone into national awards. Other accredited outcomes will be more relevant to specific projects and will be made available. Where participants are not at a stage to have their work accredited outcomes will be recorded and used with young people to review learning and encourage progress. Through participation in the youth work process young people will accept increasing levels of responsibility and develop the skills to implement the decisions they make.
To allow the curriculum to be successful the Youth Service in County Durham has:
- A pledge to young people
- An annual development plan
- A curriculum guidelines document
- Developed quality systems including annual self-assessment
- A programme of training and development for young people and youth workers
- Opportunities to share good practice
- The Healthy Youth Work standard
Curriculum Areas
Being HealthyPromoting healthy lifestyles
Mental health and emotional wellbeing
Sex & relationships
Substance misuse including smoking and alcohol
Stress busting
Healthy Eating
Exercise
Relationships and friendships
Looking after yourself
Personal identity and independence
Being Safe
Health and safety awareness
Risk assessment
Personal Safety
Community safety
Child Protection
Understanding bullying and discrimination
Safety in the home
Safety on the street
First aid
Using transport safely
Safety at parties, pubs and socialising
Self defence
Road safety
Managing peer pressure
Enjoying & Achieving
Equal opportunities
Achieving personal goals
Recognition & reward
New experiences
Awards and
certification
Meeting new people
Outdoor education
Residential work
Trips and visits
Multi-Culturalism
Exchange visits
Working as a team
Peer education
Self expression
Spirituality
Contributing to Community
Volunteering
Participation in decision-making
Citizenship – Rights and responsibilities
Political education
Community cohesion
News letters
Web sites
Youth Action
Looking after the environment
Fund raising
Heritage
Global issues
Free trade
Research
Intergenerational work
Achieving Economic Well being
Inclusion
Raising aspirations
Post 16 opportunities
Skills for Life
Employment skills
Youth work training
Presentation skills
Multi-media skills
Young Volunteers
Part time work -opportunities and rights
Access to transport
Transition to independent living
Negotiating skills
The Ofsted Enhanced Youth Inspection Report, published December 21 2007, reported that the "Youth Service in County Durham is good and provides good value for money"
Enhanced Youth Inspection.pdf (9 pages, 75kb)
Education In The Community Youth Service Plan 2006 - 2007 is available in a PDF file which can be viewed below.
Youth Service Plan 2006 - 2007.pdf (21 pages, 118kb)
Education In The Community Youth Service Newsletter is available in a PDF file which can be viewed below.
Youth Service Newsletter.pdf (4 pages, 436kb)
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.
Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) and the Youth Capital Fund (YCF)
What are they?
The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) and the Youth Capital Fund (YCF) are part of the Government’s radical reform of services for young people. It is proposed that the funds, available over two years, will be bid for by young people to improve activities and facilities in their neighbourhood.The YOF and YCF are for all young people 13-19 in order to provide a “real voice” in the decision making process. It is intended to increase the well being of young people by enabling them to benefit from positive activities, to enjoy sport and recreational activities and to encourage personal and social development. The funds will also engage disadvantaged and hard to reach young people.
Who can apply?
Groups of young people may apply and applications must be young person led.How much can be applied for?
There is no upper or lower limit, but the funds will be used to benefit as many young people as possible.For more information consult the guidelines provided. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.
Funding Application Form 2008-09.pdf (5 pages, 112kb)
Funding Guidelines 2008-09 Final.pdf (4 pages, 67kb)
