MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Education: Following on from my statement in June on key work
underway to establish a sustainable model for youth work in
Wales, I would like to provide a further update on the progress
of this work and next steps.
At that time, I announced my decision that work should get
underway to establish a national body for youth work in Wales. I
am pleased to report that the first meeting of the national
body's delivery board has taken place, marking a significant
milestone in our journey. The delivery board will drive the
creation of the national body for youth work, ensuring progress
against milestones. It will provide leadership, advice and
challenge on remit, funding, governance and stakeholder
engagement. The delivery board will also align the national body
for youth work with other organisations, shape sub-groups, and
utilise their insights to inform workstreams, supporting robust
organisational and financial structures.
The membership of the board is as follows:
- Sharon Davies - Head of Education, Welsh Local Government
Association
- Steve Davis - Principal Youth Officer, Pembrokeshire County
Council
- Steve Drowley - Chair, Education Training Standards Wales
- Paul Glaze - Chief Executive, Council for Wales for Voluntary
Youth Work Services
- Loren Henry - Chief Executive, Urban Circle
- Sian Lewis - Chief Executive, Urdd Gobaith Cymru
- Catherine Taylor - Principal Youth Officer, Denbighshire
County Council
I am grateful to all these colleagues who have agreed to
contribute their time and expertise in support of our aim to
establish a structure which builds on the strengths of our
sector, advocates on behalf of youth work and ultimately enhances
the youth work offer for young people across Wales.
I consulted on draft proposals for a new statutory framework for
youth work earlier this year. Following careful consideration of
advice received from the voluntary sector, local authorities, the
Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board and wider stakeholders,
I am pleased to announce that I have made the decision to proceed
to finalise the draft statutory framework. The new framework,
comprising of statutory directions and statutory guidance, will
be brought into force by April 2026.
The new framework will place a statutory duty on local
authorities to ensure the provision of youth work - this is
unprecedented and reflects my commitment to extend the benefits
of youth work to more young people. The framework will also
introduce a new planning and reporting structure which will
enable Welsh Ministers and crucially, young people, to hold
decision makers to account for decisions relating to the youth
work offer in their area.
The new framework will require local authorities to produce five
year strategic plans – I want to be clear that there is an
expectation that these strategic plans will be developed and
delivered in close collaboration with the voluntary sector and
other partners. This is about what is best for young people and I
therefore expect to receive strategic plans that represent a
partnership approach – a pooling of resources, a collective
vision for how best to meet the needs of young people within our
communities and driving youth work forward. The first five year
strategic plans are currently planned to commence in April 2027,
with a period set aside from early 2026 onwards for partners to
work together on the development and finalisation of these plans.
The new statutory framework and the establishment of a national
body for youth work are part of a wider programme of work which
will collectively lead to a strengthened youth work offer for
young people in Wales. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who has engaged so positively in this work to date
and look forward to further collaboration as we move through this
next phase of work.
