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Youth work

Early Insights

How does youth work help young people achieve their potential?

i.e. how well young people make progress towards and achieve their aims incorporated in the following principles and purposes of youth work (Youth Work in Wales: Principles and Purposes of Youth Work in Wales Review Group, October 2022

What’s going well

  • Many young people gain the skills, knowledge, understanding, attitudes and values to support their own personal development and well-being.
  • Many young people in targeted school sessions develop resilience and coping skills valuably and develop the ability to concentrate on their schoolwork.
  • Youth workers provide a valuable platform that enables young people to discover, explore and express themselves, fostering personal growth and self-expression through diverse activities such as arts and crafts making to sporting and outdoor activities.
  • Through opportunities such as youth fora and political education activities, young people learn how to participate valuably in democratic processes in Wales and the UK.
  • Many young people learn to express their views confidently and take greater responsibility for their personal choices that will impact their lives in the future.
  • Young people improve their understanding of the importance of mutual respect and tolerance.

What needs to improve

  • Young people do not develop upon the Welsh language skills they have acquired in formal education whilst participating in informal activities and scenarios. This is mainly due to lack of opportunities available to them.

What young people can expect from youth work provision

i.e. The quality of youth work, the universal offer (youth work provision for all young people) and support for vulnerable young people

What’s going well

  • The quality and range of provision is consistently good in both providers inspected.
  • Youth workers in both providers are dedicated and enthusiastic and build a rapport with young people and assess their needs.
  • Providers offer activities and support for a wide range of young people effectively.
  • Youth workers provide valuable support for vulnerable young people where required.
  • Providers successfully engage with young people in activities that are both beneficial and fun, ensuring that young people develop skills and emotional maturity whilst enjoying themselves during their interactions with peers and adults.

What needs to improve

  • Overall, access to Welsh-medium provision is limited and too often Welsh speaking staff do not make the best use of their Welsh language skills with young people. The strategic oversight of Welsh-medium provision is weak.

Leading and improving

What’s going well

  • Providers have a clear vision of how young people are supported to become participative and active members of society.
  • Leaders ensure that the needs of young people are central to their planning while taking account of national priorities appropriately.
  • Leaders work effectively to provide beneficial continuous professional development to staff. They place a firm emphasis on developing individuals that helps to attract and retain a professionally qualified workforce.

What needs to improve

  • In one provider, information on the quality of direct provision, or the staff development needs and emerging issues for young people, is not gathered systematically enough to help inform priorities, training and support to the best possible effect.

Overview of recommendations from inspections

In the 2023-2024 academic year, Estyn inspected two providers of youth services.

One provider was given two recommendations:

  • Develop systems to ensure a more systematic flow of information between affiliated clubs and the BGC Wales so that they can support with key issues and training needs
  • Drive forward work to achieve the targets and actions of their Welsh Language policy

The other provider was recommended to develop opportunities for Welsh-medium and bilingual youth work provision.