The National Youth Agency (NYA) has launched a refresh of the National Curriculum for Youth Work
The National Youth Agency for England intends for the new National Youth Work Curriculum to enable a greater understanding of youth work practice, provide an educational framework and act as a reference tool to be used by decision makers, policy makers, commissioners, youth workers and young people.
Leigh Middleton, CEO of the NYA says:
This curriculum framework makes it clear that youth work is a form of education; it sets out what it is and how to apply the principles and values that underpin it. Our curriculum begins with young people as a starting point and builds our support and youth work practice around them, their peers and their communities.
The curriculum framework is founded on four cornerstones, describing the broad aims of youth work:
Education. Youth work offers informal learning opportunities that can complement formal learning in schools and colleges. It gives young people the opportunity to learn – about themselves, about others, about issues they care about or that concern them and about society and how to engage in their communities.
Empowerment. Youth work helps young people to develop the skills and confidence to make decisions and act on issues that affect their own lives, the lives of others, their communities and society. This enables young people to take control, have a voice and get involved as advocates.
Equality. Youth work is for all young people. It respects differences and builds connections between different groups and individuals. It recognises and promotes human rights, social justice and anti-oppressive practices, supporting and challenging young people to reflect on their understanding of themselves and their behaviour towards others.
Participation. Youth work supports young people and works with them to become partners and leaders in their own learning, to help them gain influence over issues they are concerned about and to engage them with democratic processes.
The 36 page document described the values, principles and process involved in youth work alongside an introduction to 10 curriculum themes and key sources that assert the place of youth work an essential ‘third’ service for young people alongside formal education and social work.
The full document and an accompanying introductory video is available at: