Young people in Wiltshire to benefit from investment in local youth opportunities

Young people in Wiltshire will benefit from more opportunities, activities, and support as part of a new investment in youth work by Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire Council is investing in the future of youth work by supporting and strengthening the valuable work already taking place in communities across the county.

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations already provide a wide range of activities, opportunities and support for young people. This investment will help build on that strong foundation by developing skills, strengthening partnerships and increasing capacity across the sector. The Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Partnership will continue to be a key partner for the council in the delivery of the local youth offer.

The scheme will include the recruitment of two specialist officers who will deliver accredited Youth Work qualifications at Levels 1 and 2 directly within community settings across the county. By taking training into local communities, the council aims to make qualifications more accessible and support volunteers, staff and organisations already working with young people, giving them further opportunities to develop their skills all for the benefit of those they support.

Work will go on to strengthen connections between schools, VCSE organisations and other partners, helping to identify opportunities for collaboration and ensuring young people across Wiltshire can benefit from a strong network of local support.

Alongside this, the council will fund an enhanced bursary scheme so VCSE organisations can apply for help towards training costs up to Level 3 in Youth Work. Courses that are Level 3 and above can be fully funded through an arrangement with the National Youth Agency.

As part of the wider offer, Wiltshire Council, alongside the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Partnership, is also exploring the development of a quality standard, or "kite mark", to recognise organisations that demonstrate high-quality youth work practice.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: “Good youth services can make a real difference, giving young people safe spaces, trusted support, new experiences, and opportunities to grow and thrive alongside their peers.

"Across Wiltshire, there are many dedicated organisations, volunteers and staff already making a positive impact on young people's lives. This investment is about supporting and strengthening that work, helping organisations access training, develop skills and create even more opportunities for young people.

"By investing in training, qualifications and partnership working, we are helping to create a stronger and more sustainable youth sector for Wiltshire, while ensuring local organisations have everything they need to remain at the heart of youth provision in their communities."

The programme supports the principles of youth participation and community-based provision that are reflected in the Government's National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters: National Youth Strategy - GOV.UK and Wiltshire's existing commitment to ensuring young people have a voice in shaping services and opportunities across the county. This investment also supports Wiltshire Council’s commitment to its VCSE Framework.  Earlier this year, the council, alongside organisations representing the VCSE, signed the framework, which sets out how the council works with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to support strong, resilient communities and deliver positive outcomes for residents. There’s more information on this at Volunteering - Wiltshire Council.