After successfully completing a BA (Hons) in youth and community work at Manchester Metropolitan University, mature student Patience Tauzeni should be looking ahead to a bright career in youth work. Instead, the 39-year-old is seriously considering studying a masters in social work. "When I read the newspapers and internet, there are more opportunities in social work than in youth work," she says.
During the full-time course, she did part-time agency work, mainly in hostels for the homeless, but is keen to find something more challenging. "Agency work doesn't give you responsibility," she says.
In spite of the current hardship youth work is facing, there is still no lack of students looking to become fully qualified youth workers. Tauzeni is one of more than 3,300 students currently studying for, or who have just graduated with, a JNC youth work qualification. The Open University's head of qualifications in working with young people Sheila Curran reports that interest in JNC-recognised qualifications in youth work is holding up well. Alan Smith, principal lecturer in youth and community at Leeds Metropolitan University, says a slight growth in numbers, year-on-year, is continuing.
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