COVID-19

You will be able to find resources to help you and young people keep calm, stay connected and be safe. Each section has downloadable resources and links to other useful sites to support youth workers or use with young people

Welcome to the Institute for Youth Work

The Institute for Youth Work (IYW) is a membership organisation for Youth Workers and those that espouse youth work methodologies and ethics in their work with young people. Together we can speak up for youth work and advocate for our profession and our professional identity in a context of continued change and challenge, giving you opportunities to represent your passions and concerns at a strategic level.

By joining the IYW you are adding your voice to several hundred others’ who all have the interest of improving the lives of young people through the phenomenal discipline that is youth work.

As a member, you will have full access to the growing range of benefits accessible through our website and be offered opportunities to contribute to strategic discussions happening in the youth work sector, with the UK Government, the Commonwealth and the wider world.  Active membership is encouraged so please do consider standing for election to the IYW Council, announced in the build-up to our AGM and annual conference.

As the current Chair of the IYW Council, I look forward to working with you to grow the Institute’s voice and influence in order to positively advance our profession long into the future.

 

PRIORITY 1: BUILD THE RECOGNITION OF THE BENEFITS AND VALUE OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORK
  •  Actively promote the values and ethics of youth work
  • Challenge those who confuse this with play or early years work
  • Continuously advocate for youth work, present evidence-based research, publish case studies etc.
  • Share good news and good practice widely
  • Make the evidence agenda real for practitioners and support them with this
PRIORITY 2: RAISING PROFESSIONAL YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORK STANDARDS
  •  Promote educational pathways
  • Widen access to youth and community work research and journals
  • Promote networking activities, best practice events and reflective spaces
  • Continued investigation of the viability and impact of a License to Practice
PRIORITY 3: INCREASE MEMBERSHIP OF AND SUPPORT FOR THE IYW
  • Develop robust membership communication, engagement and consultation processes
  • Clarity of our professional development offer
  • Publish a ‘you said, we did’ report
  • Assist membership (including the IYW Council) in promoting the IYW at conferences and events
Latest IYW News

Successful start to IYW monthly themed events – LGBT+ & allies

On the 26th of February 2021, the Institute for Youth Work (IYW) facilitated the first of a new range of membership engagement events, on this occasion bringing together a number of LGBT+ professionals and allies from across the youth work sector. The event, loosely...

The Word is Out

The word is out – at last night’s AGM I announced that I would be stepping down as Chair of the Institute for Youth Work Council and Chair of Trustees. Since I first heard about the formation of the Institute for Youth Work in late 2013, I was keenly interested in...

The Youth Work Curriculum – A lifeline for Youth Work

A perspective piece by IYW Council Member Esther Horner-Aird Last week the sector received a huge boost with the publication of the Youth Work Curriculum, spearheaded by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and brought together by Lead Associate Liz Harding. The document,...

Young People, the pandemic and jobs – “optimism needed”

As millions of Young People return to schools, colleges and universities the concerns about a second wave of the global Covid-19 pandemic gather speed, and with it further limitations on our liberties to fight the virus. It feels like the A-levels and B-TEC fiascos...

Youth work: Coronavirus & Technology

I send this blog from home, like many of you I am working remotely and only going into the office on my allocated day.  While working remotely is not new, it is the essence of detached work.  The doing every meeting via a screen and the absence of a warm...
Latest Policy & Youth Sector News

Will this be a watershed moment for change?

Will this be a watershed moment for change? The urgent need to address serious violence Together A routine Wednesday morning last week turned into an unimaginable tragedy after a 15 year old girl was murdered on her way to school. It is heart-breaking, and my prayers are with her family during this unimaginable ordeal. I […]
This post is only available to members.

We’re Going to Party Conferences!

We’re Going to Party Conferences! At UK Youth we are really excited to be heading to the Conservative and Labour Party Conferences in October this year with some of the young people that we work with. We will be there to champion the power of youth work and the voices of young people to politicians […]
This post is only available to members.

Youth Employment: Policy Update

Youth Employment: Policy Update We have been extremely pleased to see a range of political interest in the issue of youth employment over the recent months. This blog aims to highlight the progress that has been made in this area, our recent involvement, and what we would like to see happen next! Youth Employment We […]
This post is only available to members.

Loneliness Awareness Week: Policy update

Loneliness Awareness Week: Policy update We have been really pleased to see a range of political interest in the issue of youth loneliness over the recent months, this blog aims to highlight the progress that has been made in this area, our recent involvement, and what we would like to see happen next! The Belong […]
This post is only available to members.

Policy and Public Affairs round up blog – Apr & May 2023

Policy and Public Affairs round up blog – Apr & May 2023 This is our regular policy and public affairs round up blog, covering what the team have been up to here at UK Youth, what young people have been saying, and what is coming up in the next couple of months. We would love […]
This post is only available to members.
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Directorate Member of the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Work Associations

Member Organisations

British Red Cross

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global network of volunteers. 

We believe that all children and young people should be empowered to make a positive difference on the issues that affect their lives, their communities and broader society.

 

We believe in the power of their kindness to make a significant difference to people in need and are proud of the steps we have made to ensure young people voices are heard.

Splat Training

Our training is designed and bespoke to the needs of our clients.

Kinetic Youth

KINETIC is a social enterprise that uses youth work methodologies to support young people to improve their lives. We work with those in, or at risk of becoming involved in, the youth justice system.

UTRUK

Specialist helpline and support services supporting young men & boys at risk or have been through ‘CSE’

eXcel Youth

allsorts youth project

Allsorts Youth Project listens to, supports & connects children & young people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or unsure (LGBTU) of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Youth@Heart

We aim to offer support, awareness and opportunity to teenagers, young adults (15 to 24) and their families in Gloucestershire (across South Wales and the South West of England), born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).

Forward Ever Inclusive Education CIC

Forward Ever Inclusive Education CIC provides a range of unique services responding to the needs of children, young people, education staff, youth work staff, youth offending staff and a range of professionals working in the social care sector.

IMO

Inspire Motivate Overcome (IMO) is a community third sector organisation, based in Blackburn with Darwen, East Lancashire. IMO is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. The charity has been in operation since 2006 and our current core mission has been to help local young people and their families to combat disadvantage, to overcome the difficult and different challenges they may face.

Youth Network

Youth Network is a youth-centred organisation based in Luton. We work with 11-25 year olds to achieve their goals, further their career opportunities, create a platform for their thoughts and ideas, and create real and meaningful change in their communities.

University of Sunderland

This course combines an honours degree with a professional qualification in youth work, training you to become a fully qualified youth worker with a nationally recognised professional qualification.

Linx Youth Project

Linx runs open access youth clubs Monday – Friday across different wards in Middlesbrough for young people aged 10-19 (and up to 25 with Special Educational Needs). Our youth clubs provide a place for young people to socialise, meet with their friends and make new friends.

Matrix Trust

Matrix is a Christian charity providing a lifeline for vulnerable young people across Guildford Borough. Established for nearly 20 years, we are dedicated to working with young people, helping them to improve their lives, and for young people, catalysing change by nurturing, inspiring, connecting and empowering them.

Challenge Me

Our Challenging Me mentoring programme and targeted workshops are built around the idea that modelling a healthy, trusting and respectful relationship is the best way to engage young people. If we can engage them, we can reach them. And if we can reach them, we can start to arm them with the skills they need to drive the kind of changes they want to see in their own lives.

The Trust for Developing Communities

TDC. Community-led solutions to tackling inequality.

 The Trust for Developing Communities was created in the year 2000 to deliver grassroots community development work across the city of Brighton and Hove.  

University of Derby

If you want to make a difference in the lives of children, young people and their families this is the degree for you. It enables individuals to make decisions about their lives, build personal resilience and reach their full potential. This is one of the largest professional youth and community work training courses in the country providing you with a challenging and worthwhile career.

Above & Beyond

Above and Beyond offers opportunities and activities to engage and support young people and communities. 
​​All our activities are designed to enable young people to grow and become positive, caring citizens.
We also support communities to become positive, more active places to live.

Specialist Youth Work

Specialist Youth Work is an organisation working in the Surrey & Sussex areas within the South East Region of England, committed to providing high quality youth work services. Specialist Youth Work is to act as a resource for young people aged 10 to 19 and up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs & or Disabilities , by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of physical, educational and other activities.

Nazarene Theological College

BA (Hons) Theology (Youth and Community)

This fantastic placement-based pathway can be studied full-time or part-time and will equip you for working in youth and community settings, recognising that it is important for Christians involved in youth ministry and community work in the UK and abroad to be: