University chosen to head study intoWales’ youth strategy

A UNIVERSITY will have a major impact on the future of youth work in Wales after being chosen to spearhead a review of the current strategy.

Wrexham Glyndwr University is to garner feedback on the National Youth Work Strategy for Wales 201418 and report to the Welsh Government on best practice and areas where improvements can be made.

The university received a £25,000 grant to take on the project, which will be led by Jess Achilleos and Hayley Douglas, lecturers in youth and community work.

They will be supported by Cardiff Metropolitan University and Susanne Rauprich, former chief executive of the now-defunct National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, a London-based representative body for more than 200 voluntary and community youth organisations, which announced earlier this year that it would be closing on April 1.

The team will work with all 22 local authorities and dozens of voluntary groups to gauge how successful the present plan has been.

The team has until July to evaluate the study, which it will do via questionnaires, open discussions and focus groups.

The key objectives of the evaluation are to “identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats” relating to the strategy and any gaps in its direction.

Jess Achilleos said: “We will be working with all councils, as well as organisations in other sectors to determine how the current strategy can be improved.

“There will be elements that have worked well and parts that perhaps do not reflect how youth work has changed, which is also important.

“This is a vital piece of work for the sector, but also for Wrexham Glyndwr University and our youth work degree, so we are honoured to be taking it forward and leading on this project.”

The research will also seek to canvass the opinions of young people – the research team feel it is important that their voice is heard as the policy impacts directly on the young people of Wales.