UK Youth to take on NCVYS functions

It had previously been announced earlier this month that NCVYS will merge with Ambition on 1 April. At the time it was announced that the organisation's membership services and policy functions would transfer first, with talks on the future of other areas of work continuing.

It has now emerged that UK Youth will take on several areas of NCVYS work. This will include taking forward the Erasmus-supported Creative Collisions annual youth sector conference, as well as working closely with partners to support The Awards Network, which promotes and disseminates good practice and demonstrates the value of non-formal learning.

In addition, UK Youth will take on NCVYS's portfolio of safeguarding resources and services, including the Sound Systems accreditation scheme and the collaborative work on the Stop, Look, Listen safeguarding campaign. 

UK Youth will also be taking on the management of the Muslim Council of Britain partnership, and will be supporting the Centre for Youth Impact to carry forward the proposed youth sector Collective Impact initiative, as well as carrying out relevant research and youth engagement initiatives already begun by NCVYS.

A UK Youth spokesman said: UK Youth actively promotes collaboration across the youth sector and, following the sector consultation carried out with Ambition and NCVYS, UK Youth will also be leading on the youth sector Chair’s Taskforce to explore opportunities for further sector partnership and consolidation. 

"UK Youth very much looks forward to working with Ambition to continue to tackle the challenges which the youth sector faces, to promote the value and impact of local and regional youth projects, and to secure the additional sources of funding needed to sustain the sector."

Ambition UK, NCVYS and UK Youth, began talks in October last year about how organisations in the youth sector can work more closely together to deliver high-quality services at a time when funding is being cut.

Following tomorrow's merger, Ambition, which represents about 3,000 youth clubs and community projects, serving some 500,000 young people, will retain its current name.