Co-Creating Futures: Innovative Youth Work, Sustainability, and Community Wellbeing
TAG-PALYCW BIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2026
Youth work in the UK faces continual challenges, politically and economically, yet still, it finds opportunities for growth and evolution.
In typical youth and community work fashion, young people, communities, practitioners and educators, continue to collaborate towards the flourishing of young people and communities. But it is not always clear how they do this amidst the challenges.
The biennial, UK PALYCW (Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work) conference will offer a space for youth and community workers to share precisely what it is they are doing and how they are doing it...and the lessons they can share.
This is the first of its kind where practitioners, educators, and academics can come together to reflect on the future of UK youth and community work.
From the 8th -10th of July 2026, the youth and community work teaching team at University of South Wales (USW), will host a diverse and engaging itinerary of talks, workshops, and activities, focused on modern youth work.
Themes of the conference will include:
· Co-production and participatory design and delivery.
· Children and young people’s wellbeing and flourishing.
· Entrepreneurship and sustainability in youth and community work.
· Digital innovations and interventions.
The conference is a three-day event, and participants are invited to attend the whole or part of the conference, depending on their area of interest, expertise, and availability. Education and training of youth and community workers, delivery of youth and community work services, and an opportunity to work on refining conference contributions discussions for the purpose of dissemination and/or publication.
Practitioners are encouraged to attend on the 9th and 10th of July. The focus will be on the shifting landscape that is, education and training for a contemporary youth and community work workforce, sharing knowledge and techniques as well as the opportunity to find space to work on their dissemination and/or publication ambitions.
This is a call for contributions and attendance, and we invite you to register your attendance via the hyperlink below: UK PALYCW Biennial Conference 8th-10th July 2026 University of South Wales, Newport
Conference Pricelist: Early Bird – March to April 2026
TAG Members: £50 per day/ £125 for full three days. Non-members: £60 per day/ £140 for full three days.
Regular Pricing – May to June 2026
TAG Members: £75 per day/ £150 for full three days. Non-members - £85 per day/ £165 for full three days.
Please click on A link below to book your place
Please note, bookings do NOT include accommodation
