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  • 18 March 2024

    YWU News

    Impact and Quality Network next meeting

    Come and join us at the next Regional Impact and Quality Network* meeting - Thursday 25th April 10am - 11.30am online Topic: HAF evidencing delivery ...

  • 18 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Councils are spending over £200 per person more on children’s services

    Councils call for ‘honest discussion’ on what they should be expected to deliver as new data reveals local authorities spend two-thirds of their budg ...

  • 17 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Discover the latest insights into the challenges facing local government in our newest podcast episode

    As councils grapple with financial strains and increasing demands from communities, join us as Cllr Pete Marland, Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Reso ...

  • 17 March 2024

    News | Regional News

    Bradford: Outdoor centre to close as part of budget cuts

    Bradford councillors have agreed to sell off an outdoor residential centre for children as part of £40 million worth of cuts to its budget. Read more ...

  • 17 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    National Social Proscribing Day – recognises young people

    Social prescribing is suited to all age groups, but it is especially important for children and youth, as it is well understood that this population ...

  • 17 March 2024

    YWU News

    RYCA at the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission Climate Talking Point event

    Amogh, a member of RYCA (Regional Youth Climate Assembly) presented a youth view at the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission Climate Talking Point ...

  • 16 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    YoungMinds receives biggest ever grant from Paul Hamlyn Foundation to support young people to lead change in mental health

    Leading mental health charity YoungMinds has received a £5million grant over ten years from Paul Hamlyn Foundation to support the design and delivery ...

  • 16 March 2024

    News | Regional News

    THE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED TO ENHANCE CRIME EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE HUMBER REGION

    he Education Partnership, a collaborative initiative uniting partners from the Humber region, has officially been launched to enhance crime education ...

  • 16 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Fears for city’s youth as clubs face budget cuts

    Youth workers in Birmingham have accused the city council of a “veiled attempt to dismantle their service”, leaving them feeling “overwhelmed and aba ...

  • 16 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    NHS England Violence Reduction Academy – Call for Evidence

    The NHS England Violence Reduction Academy, supported by Queen Mary University of London, are investigating evidence, service descriptions and practi ...

  • 16 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    More than a fifth of UK adults not looking for work

    More than a fifth of working-age adults in the UK are deemed not to be actively looking for work, figures suggest. Long-term illness has been cited a ...

  • 9 March 2024

    YWU News

    Regional Roadshow with the NYA

    on the 8th March the NYA in partnership with the YWU Y&H hosted the annual roadshow with over 60 members of the region's Youth Work Sector attend ...

  • 9 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Breaking Stereotypes – Navigating Misogyny with Young Men

    Youth workers understand that adolescents’ understanding of masculinity is informed by the different influences and cultures they are exposed to. The ...

  • 9 March 2024

    News | Regional News

    Bradford Council: ‘Lack of trust’ between authority and organisation running children’s services

    The relationship between Bradford Council and the trust that runs children’s services in the city is blighted by tensions around spending and at risk ...

  • 9 March 2024

    News | Regional News

    The Youth Select Committee have launched their report investigating the cost of living’s impact on young people’s health and wellbeing

    Youth Select Committee calls for Government action to support young people through the cost of living crisis. The “one-size-fits all approach” to sup ...

  • 9 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    How the power of service can tackle rising NEET numbers

    Getting more young people into work and supporting their communities can help boost economic outcomes and the life chances of thousands of young peop ...

  • 9 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Birmingham Councillors Approve £100m Cuts to Children and Families Services

    Services for children, young people and families in Birmingham face a funding drop of more than £100 million after councillors approved what are thou ...

  • 9 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Spring Budget 2024

    Announcing his Budget for 2024, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced £45 million funding for local authorities to create 200 additional ...

  • 4 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Gen Z Suffering ‘Unprecedented Levels of Burnout,’ Warns HR Lead

    A leading HR provider has called on companies to “act fast” or face “unprecedented levels of burnout” among younger Gen Z employees in their 20s. New ...

  • 2 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Care Leavers in London, have half price bus and tram travel

    Eligible care leavers aged between 18 and 25, who live in London, can now apply for half price bus and tram travel, after a new travel concession ope ...

  • 2 March 2024

    News | Regional News

    DCMS and National Citizen Service Trust co-fund UK Year of Service

    DCMS and the National Citizen Service Trust will co-fund the next cohort of the UK Year of Service, providing placements to at least 100 young people. The UK Year of Service is a unique opportunity that places 18 - 24 year olds into socially beneficial job roles, connecting them to paid work that pays back, and provides them with wraparound support. Placement partners will design and deliver opportunities for young people who are furthest from the labour market, with a particular focus on young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The next cohort’s placements will be across the North West, North East and Yorkshire & Humber.

  • 2 March 2024

    News | Regional News

    New KYA Membership Process and Quality for Youth

    KYA are delighted to be launching our new membership process along with an enhanced Members' Directory on our website in March. There are three main reasons for the changes: 1) We want to be clear to everyone that we are a youth work charity and that our focus is on working with organisations who align with professional youth work principles. 2) We are introducing "Quality for Youth", our bespoke quality assurance framework, starting with the Bronze Q4Y Standard which will be integrated into the membership process. This will tell families and stakeholders that our Member delivery organisations have met basic compliance standards.  3) We want families and practitioners to be able to search more effectively for organisations delivering youth work across Kirklees.

  • 2 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    MPs debate youth funding

    MPs debate youth funding - watch the 30 min debate watch here ...

  • 2 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Scouts putting ‘the lives of young people at risk’, warns coroner

    The Scout Association lacks a “culture of candour” and is “institutionally defensive”, a coroner has warned following the death of a 16-year-old boy who fell from a beauty spot in Wales while on a trip with the organisation.

  • 2 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Backbone Fund – £2 million to ‘backbone’ organisations in civil society

    PHF announces 9 new grants totalling £2 million, made through the latest round of the Backbone Fund. This is the seventh year of the invitation-only fund, which looks to support organisations who are advocates, connectors and networks working to shape a more equitable future.

  • 2 March 2024

    National & International News | News

    Department of Health & Social Care – Extra Funding for Early Support Hubs

    • Thousands of children and young people will receive earlier, easy access mental health interventions at 24 hubs in local communities. The drop-in centres offer mental health support and advice to young people without a referral by a doctor or school. Services provided include group work, counselling, psychological therapies, specialist advice and signposting to information and other services.

  • 2 March 2024

    News | Regional News

    HOME, Barnsley

    Chilypep have some exciting news to share!! HOME, Barnsley is one of 24 Hubs across the country to share in £8 million funding for early support hubs to help children and young people receive better mental health support across the country. The government announced in October 2023 that £4.92 million would be available for 10 early support hubs. It is now providing an additional £3 million to expand the number of hubs to 24 across the country - ranging from Exeter to Liverpool. The £8 million overall package will improve access for children and young people to vital mental health support, offering early interventions to improve wellbeing before their condition escalates further. HOME, Barnsley is delighted to have been successful in securing this funding for the young people of Barnsley and it will go towards continuing to support the Wellbeing Programme here at HOME, ensuring we can continue to offer a range of services, including group work, 1-2-1 support, counselling and signposting.

  • 29 February 2024

    YWU News

    We are growing our team

    Final report for year two of Authoring Our Own Stories. Year two focussed on ex industrial and mining communities, specifically exploring civic identity with young people growing up in these areas in our region

  • 26 February 2024

    YWU News

    Training opportunities with the YWU

    Final report for year two of Authoring Our Own Stories. Year two focussed on ex industrial and mining communities, specifically exploring civic identity with young people growing up in these areas in our region

  • 26 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Guide to Qualifications and Training: Youth Work

    In the past, youth work was mainly delivered by local authorities but today is provided by a range of organisations such as housing programmes, volun ...

  • 26 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    First recipients of DCMS enrichment partnership announced

    The first group of organisations to benefit from a £2.7 million pilot to deliver enrichment activities for young people has been announced. The NCS T ...

  • 26 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Compulsory reporting of child sexual abuse ‘must be properly funded’

    The Home Secretary's plans to push through a law requiring professionals working with young people to report child sexual abuse must be "properly fun ...

  • 26 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Sector split over guidance on mobile phone ban in schools

    Some sector leaders have commended the publication of new government guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools over its focus on tackling behav ...

  • 26 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    LGA responds to the Children’s Commissioner report

    The LGA is calling for a register of children not in school, accompanied by powers for councils to check children are receiving a suitable education. ...

  • 19 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Housing Association Under Fire Over ‘No Care Leavers’ Advert

    The Guinness Partnership’s advert for a two-bed flat in Baguley, Greater Manchester – which has now been removed – read “sensitive let: No history of ...

  • 19 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    First private youth hormone clinic approved by health regulator

    The first private hormone clinic for transgender and non-binary youth has been approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Meaning it can now prescribe hormones to patients aged 16+ following psychological assessment.

  • 19 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Poor mental health in children ‘spiralling out of control’

     Nurse leaders are urging the government to invest in health visiting services to reduce the rates of mental health problems that are “spiralling out of control” in babies, children and young people.

  • 19 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Gordon Brown slams ‘obscene’ levels of destitution in the UK

     He described Britain as “haunted by poverty we thought had been consigned to history”. The situation was deteriorating for destitute families whose children lacked proper clothing, or had to share beds, whose parents felt shame because they could not provide and feared their children would be taken into care as a result, he said.

  • 19 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Sadiq Khan Launches Inclusion Charter To Help Tackle Rising Suspensions and Absenteeism

     The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has launched London’s first Inclusion Charter to help tackle rising suspensions and absenteeism in schools. The charter has been developed by the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in partnership with young people, schools, parents and carers and education specialists and is centred on inclusive practice. Government figures show that the equivalent of 1,430 children each day lost learning in London in 2021/22 due to suspension or persistent absenteeism – up 71%  on pre-pandemic levels in 2018/19. An Ofsted report on knife crime also showed children excluded from school were twice as likely to carry a knife, while separate research highlights one in two of the prison population were excluded as children.

  • 19 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    English Councils Increase Spending on Youth Services

    Spending on youth services by English local authorities rose by three per cent in 2022/23 but is still 73 per cent below levels seen in 2010/11, latest analysis by YMCA reveals.

  • 19 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    20,000 More Young People to Access New and Renovated Youth Clubs

    Young people in villages, towns and cities across England are set to benefit from 140 new or refurbished youth centres from the Youth Investment Fund.

  • 19 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Girls and gangs: radical approach to break cycle of violence

    Tens of thousands of girls across England are at risk of serious violence and exploitation, often within gangs. But they’re largely ''invisible'' to the authorities because the majority of gang-reduction programmes are aimed at boys. One charity is embedding youth workers in clinics to try and reach these women and girls - offering a way out of a cycle of abuse and criminality.

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    75% of parents of children under five years old are anxious about their child’s mental health

    The new survey has revealed that 3 in 4 UK parents with children under five are anxious about their child’s emotional and mental wellbeing. Read the ...

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Gender-related self-reported mental health inequalities

    New research suggests that transgender people are 5x more likely to have a long-term mental health condition compared to cisgender people, and more likely to have their mental health needs unmet by their GP.

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Monthly referrals to children’s mental health services reach record high

    Latest NHS data, analysed by YoungMinds, shows that the number of open referrals to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services is the highest on record.

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Bridging gaps and changing tracks: Supporting racially minoritised young people transitioning to adulthood

    Improved partnerships between justice services and youth workers are needed to better support racially minoritised young people when they transition between children’s and adult services, according to a report.

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Social prescribing

    Social prescribing: Moving pediatric care upstream to improve child health and wellbeing and address child health inequities.

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Youth Justice Statistics: 2022 to 2023

    The number of children entering the youth justice system has increased for the first time in 10 years, with more younger children becoming known to services.

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Children’s social work caseloads growing increasingly complex

    Study finds growth over past decade in share of cases involving multiple factors, including where children face risks inside and outside the home and domestic abuse is combined with other concern. A lack of joined up working with children’s social care and education settings is contributing to inconsistencies in addressing the needs of babies, children and young people in local health plans, according to research.

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    UK Trauma Council – Childhood Trauma, War, Migration and Asylum

    The UK Trauma Council (UKTC), a project of Anna Freud, has produced a short animation to support children and young people affected by trauma after war and conflict. The UKTC has also produced toolkits for professionals working in the UK with children and young people who have sought refuge and asylum, often as a result of war and conflict

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    The Prince’s Trust – NatWest Youth Index 2024

    The Youth Index is an annual research report based on a YouGov survey of 2,239 16- to 25-year-olds across the UK, gauging young people’s confidence and happiness across a range of areas, from their physical and mental health to money and working life

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Youth unemployment increased in 2023

    Youth unemployment increased in 2023, after a period of improvement in 2022, according to data by the ONS and Trust for London

  • 12 February 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Centre for Social Justice – Criminal Exploitation Report

    he typical understanding many people have of modern slavery involves foreign nationals exploited in prostitution or forced to work in inhumane conditions under threats and violence. Yet the most prevalent form of modern slavery in the UK reported by the Home Office over the past four years primarily involves the exploitation of British nationals, mostly teenagers and vulnerable adults, forced, coerced or groomed into committing crime for someone else’s benefit known as ‘criminal exploitation

  • 4 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Commissioner calls for radical rehaul of the SEND system

    Children’s commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza is calling for “radical reform” of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system to ensure delays around support for families are addressed

  • 4 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Youth Charities Issue Mental Health Improvements Plea to Politicians

    Members of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition have issued the plea to improve support for the around one in five young people in the UK who have a mental health problem. An estimated three quarters of young people in need of support face delays getting help, which is worsening their mental health, the coalition warns.

  • 4 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Disposable Vapes to Be Banned for Children’s Health, Government Says

    Disposable vapes are set to be banned as part of plans to tackle the rising number of young people taking up vaping, the government says.

  • 4 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Young People Contact Childline About AI Related Sexual Abuse, Bullying and Misinformation

    NSPCC have joined forces with Common Sense Media to help keep children safe online and understand the impact of generative AI on children. This alliance comes as children have been reaching out to the Childline service with concerns about generative AI, including sexual abuse, bullying, and misinformation.  The partnership will advocate for children, making sure their experiences and safety are central to decision-making by tech companies and regulators, as well as at the front of global policymakers minds.  The NSPCC will also be rolling out education programmes to increase digital literacy skills in schools to help school leaders teach children invaluable lessons about navigating the constantly evolving tech landscape in which they live in.   Children can call Childline on 0800 1111 or message a counsellor on the 1-2-1 chat service if they need someone to talk to.

  • 4 February 2024

    National & International News | News

    Labour Pledges New Youth Hubs in Plan to Tackle Knife Crime

    The Labour Party has reiterated proposals for a network of youth hubs across the UK in a bid to reduce knife crime among young people. If elected the party would introduce Young Futures, the programme would include the creation of as many as 90 youth hubs across the country and youth mental health hubs in every community

  • 29 January 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    New data reveals North/South divide of children hit by two-child limit on benefits

    The North West, North East, Yorkshire & Humber and the West Midlands have the highest percentage of children affected by the two-child limit across the UK. The data also reveals a strong correlation between the two-child limit and areas with high rates of child poverty.

  • 29 January 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Independent assurance review of the effectiveness of multi-agency responses to child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester

    Rochdale Council and police failed to protect children at risk of sexual exploitation in the Greater Manchester town more than a decade ago, an independent review has found

  • 29 January 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    The Children’s Commissioner for England – Digital playgrounds: Children’s views on video gaming

    The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report looking at children’s views on video gaming. Findings from a survey of 8- to 17-year-olds in England show around two thirds of children viewed video games as beneficial to children’s health and wellbeing

  • 29 January 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Youth Justice Statistics: 2022 to 2023

    This publication looks at the data for the youth justice system in England and Wales for the year ending March 2023. Key findings: In the year to 31 March 2023, the number of children entering the justice system for the first time increased by one per cent on the previous year to 8,400 – the first increase since 2012.

  • 29 January 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Politicians don’t understand us, say nation’s children.

    New data released by the Children’s Charities Coalition highlights that children feel politicians don’t understand their lives and aren’t listening to them as the country prepares for a General Election

  • 29 January 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    THE NEW CLIMATE DENIAL

    Third Of UK Teenagers Believe Climate Change Exaggerated, Report Shows The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) has found that most climate denial videos on YouTube push the idea that climate solutions do not work, climate science and the climate movement are unreliable, or that the effects of global heating are beneficial or harmless. The report also included the results of a nationally representative survey conducted by polling company Survation which found 31% of UK respondents aged 13 to 17 agreed with the statement “Climate change and its effects are being purposefully overexaggerated”. This rose to 37% of teenagers categorised as heavy users of social media, meaning they reported using any one platform for more than four hours a day

  • 28 January 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes

    More Evidence to Ban Energy Drinks for Children, Study Finds The sale of all energy drinks to young people and children in the UK should be banned, says a review of the latest evidence on their effects on health. It highlighted links to more risks than previously found, such as anxiety, stress and suicidal thoughts.

  • 28 January 2024

    News | Regional News

    Care leavers face more anxiety, financial difficulties and discrimination in Sheffield, survey finds

    Young people leaving care in Sheffield have said they are stigmatised and face more anxiety, financial difficulties and discrimination due to their upbringing. It comes after a survey came back with some concerning results about how care leavers feel in Sheffield compared with their peers who hadn’t been in care. Several care leavers told Sheffield City Council members that they faced the additional struggles, with the survey revealing, among others, that almost one in three “felt the things they did in life were not worthwhile”.

  • 28 January 2024

    Regional News

    Regional Youth Climate Champion Awards

    Call for Yorkshire's young climate champions The Regional Youth Climate Assembly for Yorkshire and Humber (RYCA) are hosting the first Yorkshire and Humber wide Youth Climate Champion Awards in recognition of the amazing work of young climate activists and advocates across the region. They have partnered with University of Leeds’ Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, The Ernest Cook Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, The North York Moors National Park and the Youth Work Unit Yorkshire and the Humber CIO . Nominations are open for Individual young people (aged 11-24) and youth groups under five categories reflecting the Youth Green Deal Manifesto.

  • 28 January 2024

    YWU News

    AUTHORING OUR OWN STORIES 2023

    Final report for year two of Authoring Our Own Stories. Year two focussed on ex industrial and mining communities, specifically exploring civic identity with young people growing up in these areas in our region

  • 23 January 2024

    National & International News | Reports

    GROWING STRONGER TOGETHER

    Racism being experienced by children is impacting their emotional wellbeing and putting them at greater risk of mental health difficulties and behavioural problems, according to researchers the research found that “racism wore away at children’s wellbeing”

  • 23 January 2024

    Regional News

    Regional Youth Voice Awards

    Saturday saw the regional voice awards hosted at Leeds Beckett University. Two sets of awards were presented by Stuart Andrew MP, Steve Duncan Deputy ...

  • 23 January 2024

    Regional News

    ITV News Lost Generations Story

    ITV News has carried out an investigation into how cuts to youth services have coincided with rising violence. Here they have pulled together a 30 mi ...

  • 16 January 2024

    National & International News

    New Cyber Explorers Cup competition launched for pupils across the UK to boost their tech skills

    Schools from every corner of the UK are invited to test their tech skills for the chance to be crowned Cyber Explorer champions, Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan has announced. The Cyber Explorers Cup kicked off on Wednesday 6 December giving pupils between 11 and 14 years the opportunity to compete in cyber security challenges.

  • 16 January 2024

    National & International News

    Children must understand risk as UK schools say pupils abusing AI

    Initial reports show schoolchildren in the UK are now using AI to generate indecent images of other children, with experts warning urgent action is needed to help children understand the risks of making this sort of imagery..

  • 16 January 2024

    National & International News

    Young People Turning to AI Therapist Bots

    These are just some of the millions of artificial intelligence (AI) personas that are available to talk to on Character.ai - a popular platform where anyone can create chatbots based on fictional or real people. And one bot has been more in demand than those above, called Psychologist.

  • 16 January 2024

    National & International News

    Youth workers have key role in reforming secondary education, peer says

    A shift away from the current secondary school education system to a “more well-rounded” curriculum designed to equip children for the modern world would require input from “the entire children’s workforce”, with a particular focus on youth workers, a peer has said.

  • 15 January 2024

    National & International News

    Child sexual offences remain ‘close to record levels’, NSPCC figures show

    The number of child sexual offences being recorded by police has fallen slightly over the last year, but remains “close to record levels”, according to analysis by the NSPCC.