The youth sector is certainly in a time of turmoil, facing the huge challenge of how to keep quality services for young people in a time when they are so vital while absorbing cuts to budgets. It feels like we need all the friends we can get.
The National Youth Agency (NYA), in partnership with the Local Government Association, is devising a support offer for all local authorities and this is currently being piloted with five areas. National agencies bring expertise and knowledge to help services in difficult times, but the true force for creativity, innovation and indeed empathy are those running and delivering services right now. So how do you connect with those "friends"?
As part of the support offer, NYA is setting up an online Community of Practice (CoP) on the Local Government Improvement and Development website. Every organisation has something to offer that will be interesting and beneficial to others. The CoP will provide a platform to encourage members to connect and contribute; acting as a bank of information and ideas, and a hub for exchange.
The site is being built in March and NYA will be sending details of a "hot seat" launch event soon. Take a look, let us know what you think, but most of all, be part of it. NYA will build it, host it and add to it, but it will live or die by its membership. Remember, as the great Leonard Nimoy once said: "The more we share, the more we have."
Amanda Fearn is a development officer for the National Youth Agency and can be contacted at amandaf@nya.org.uk
