The consultation, which was run by the National Youth Agency as part of its programme of work with the NCVYS-led Catalyst consortium during the summer, received 653 responses through the online survey, focus groups and a newly created LinkedIn discussion forum.
Of the 220 participants of the online survey, 61 per cent stated they would like to join and a further 31 per cent said they hadn’t yet decided.
Findings were presented to the National Youth Agency’s education training standards committee at the end of October. The committee agreed there is sufficient interest to take the project to the next level of development and investigate the establishment of a body to support youth workers to develop the highest possible standards in their work and increase the recognition of youth work as a valued profession.
National Youth Agency chief executive Fiona Blacke commented: “The concept of an Institute for Youth Work has been considered for many years now and we are thrilled to confirm the National Youth Agency’s board of trustees has agreed to back the development of the work on behalf of the sector.”
The project will continue to be led by the National Youth Agency’s education and training standards committee – as the only formally constituted cross-sector group made up of organisations and individuals.
Development over the next six months will concentrate on putting in place the first building blocks in a consultative manner, including a framework for ethical and effective practice, and recommendations for continued professional development.
A stakeholder consultation event is planned for late 2012 or early 2013 and details will be available from the National Youth Agency’s website shortly.
