Youth Work Week is the annual celebration of youth work professionals and the impact they have on the lives of young people.
From 3rd-9th November we’ll be celebrating Youth Work Week, this year’s theme is Building Brighter Futures: Safe places, trusted support and opportunities to thrive.
The national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) says ‘youth work changes lives’ and we couldn’t agree more.
UK Youth reports that studies have found that effective youth work creates an environment that encourages young people to broaden their horizons, develop social skills and learn through fun and structure. Youth Work is linked to better health outcomes, increased employment and education rates and a reduction in crime and anti-social behavior.
Economically, a Gov.uk report estimates that youth work benefits are worth at least £3.2 billion per year, including savings from improved health, increased employment and reduced crime.
This Youth Work Week, join us in showing our appreciation and acknowledging the immense contributions that our youth workers make to positively shaping the lives of children and young people.
As a youth worker of more than 25 years, Lee Ritchie has drawn on his experiences to pen the beautiful poem an ‘Ode to Youth Work’
