As part of its Youth Workforce Reform Programme, the Children'sWorkforce Development Council is funding foundation degrees and advancedapprenticeships for new and existing workers. The courses will beavailable to individuals looking to gain qualifications in areas such asyouth work, youth justice and advice and guidance.
The cash injection will also fund a graduate recruitment scheme,offering placements and learning that can contribute towards a Master'sdegree or post-graduate qualification. The money will fund training forup to 500 people.
National programme manager Paul Harper said the new qualifications wouldhelp encourage people into the sector who may not initially want tostudy to degree level, which is set to become the current minimumrequirement for certain roles.
"This is about supporting the training of workers at many differentlevels and in a variety of areas. Professionals work across a range ofyouth support services, not just youth work," he said.
"It is well known that career routes for professionals, and others,begin at apprenticeship and foundation degree as well as otherlevels."
The training is intended to equip participants with the skills to workin a range of young people's services and foster co-operation andcollaboration between different sectors and organisations.
All the training programmes will require individuals to undertake aplacement with a voluntary sector organisation. Participants on thegraduate recruitment scheme will spend two years in four differentsix-month placements across a variety of organisations.
