Youth work improvement initiative to tackle 'fragmentation' of services

The Joined Up Institute is being launched by UK Youth to “provide a real solution to the fragmented system of support” for young people.

Tackling digital inequality for young people will be among issues looked at by the group of professionals, which are involved in a range of aspects of young people’s lives.

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It hopes to bring together 10,000 professionals by 2025.

Legal firm Osborne Clarke, which is a partner of the Institute, will support the group’s work in improving young people’s access to technology, identifying gaps in support and find opportunities for youth workers to link up with the technology sector.

Employment and health workers are also involved, with other issues being looked at by the group including mental health challenges, access to outdoor learning, employability, and social action opportunities.

“Meaningful learning across all sectors that work with young people is essential if we are to scale comprehensive and sustainable solutions that will truly support them,” said UK Youth chief executive Ndidi Okezie.

“We know there is a lack of mutual understanding across the various services that impact young people and this fragmentation results in complexities young people themselves are left to try to navigate.

“To effectively develop young people in the UK, we need a joined-up approach from across the key sectors that exist to support them; only by working together can we tackle the systemic problems letting young people down."

She added: “We will bring professionals together to share insight, best practice to help create solutions to many problems and challenges young people are facing."