Youth Service
Youth Work is delivered through five operational areas. North Durham, Durham, The Dales, Sedgefield and Easington. Each area has an Area Manager responsible for the management, co-ordination and development of youth work, the role is combined with similar duties in relation to adult learning.
The Youth Service in County Durham makes a significant contribution to Durham County Council’s mission:
“To make County Durham the best place to live, work and bring up a family”. The Youth Service also contributes to the County Council’s corporate aims to:
Develop lifelong learning.
Promote strong, healthy and safe communities.
Look after the environment.
Build a strong economy with corporate management and central service.
In particular the Youth Service contributes significantly to lifelong learning, while also impacting upon healthy and safe communities. The contribution of Education in the Community is captured in the vision statement:
“To enable and support individuals, groups and communities to access lifelong learning, so that people will feel valued, reach their full potential and become active citizens”.
Education in the Community as a service within the Local Authority delivers on agreed educational targets which contribute to the priorities for education in Durham including raising aspirations and attainment at key stage four.
In County Durham the Youth Service operates in a unique environment. Durham is a county of small communities many of which are former mining villages. In general, many people and communities in County Durham suffer serious levels of deprivation and low levels of disposable income. A comparison with other shire counties demonstrates the extent of the deprivation, in County Durham over 30% of the population live in wards that are in the 10% most deprived wards in the Country, a figure that is twice that of any other shire county. The mix of rurality and deprivation represents a set of circumstances that are unique to County Durham.
The population of County Durham is currently 492,300. Ethnic minorities form 1% - 1.5% of the County Durham resident population. The population of 13-19 year olds is 44,500.
Purpose
The aim of the Youth Service in County Durham is to provide an excellent and continually improving Youth Service that educates and enables young people in County Durham to enjoy, achieve and realise their potential. The strategy employed to achieve this aim is based on the following objectives:Improving outcomes for Young People.
Raising the quality and quantity of youth work within the Transforming Youth Work – Resourcing Excellent Youth Services framework.
Involving young people in the design, delivery and governance of the Youth Service.
Responding positively and effectively to the development of the Children and Young People’s Services.
Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme
If you like the opportunity to meet others through shared activities you might like the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. You will enjoy yourself through effective learning, and it's certainly a challenge. So, are you persistent and committed?What does the Scheme offer?
It's for pupils of all abilities.
It's non-competitive - set your own goals.
It's for personal development - self motivation, self awareness, initiative, self discipline.
The Award Scheme is internationally recognised, highly regarded by employers.
It broadens your experience through worthwhile and challenging situations.
You can take part in a wide range of activities.
You can visit the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme website at www.theaward.org or view the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme Annual Report by please clicking on the icon below. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.
Annual Report Duke of Edinburgh 2007.pdf (19 pages, 482kb)
