Annual Monitoring

HEI Annual Monitoring Survey, 2023 

HEI Annual Monitoring Survey, 2023 

Click below to download the report and an infographic of the main points:

Annual Monitoring Report 2020/2021

Annual Monitoring Report 2020/2021

Click below to download the report and an infographic of the main points:

Annual Monitoring Report 2019/2020

Annual Monitoring Report 2019/2020

Click below to download the report and an infographic of the main points:

Annual Monitoring Report 2018/19

Annual Monitoring Report 2018/19

This report highlights the main findings given in response to the National Youth Agency (NYA) Annual Monitoring pro forma’ survey which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are required to complete as a part of their validation process.

The report supports the NYA, and the wider Youth Work sector, in maintaining a clear picture of the professional Youth Work Training landscape in England. This data will be used by the NYA in its ongoing work around youth workforce development, and will support HEIs in the development of their own Youth Work courses.

Click below to download the report and an infographic of the main points:

Annual Monitoring Report 2017/18

Annual Monitoring Report 2017/18

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Annual Monitoring report 2016/17

Annual Monitoring report 2016/17

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Annual Monitoring report, 2015/16

Annual Monitoring report, 2015/16

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Annual Monitoring Youth & Community Programmes 2014/15

Annual Monitoring Youth & Community Programmes 2014/15

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Legacy Archive

Fees for professional validation

Fees for professional validation

Social Action Journey Fund Evaluation Report

Social Action Journey Fund Evaluation Report

Commission into enterprise and young people: final report

Commission into enterprise and young people: final report

Youth services in England: changes and trends in service provision

Youth services in England: changes and trends in service provision

Impact report

Impact report

National Youth Agency’s impact report 2014:

Measuring the impact of O2 Think Big

Measuring the impact of O2 Think Big

NYA Vision for Youth Work to 2020

NYA Vision for Youth Work to 2020

The publication sets out the charity’s aim that by 2020 every young person will have access to high quality youth work in their community.

The report lays out the steps needed to make its vision a reality, examining the role of local government, the business community, the youth work sector as well as providers and young people themselves.

Collaboration & working together

Collaboration & working together

This unit outlines the knowledge, skills and behaviour relating to working together. The delivery of this unit needs to be linked with the real work environment.

Youth premium

Youth premium

The NYA’s commission into sufficiency of the youth offer, made an important recommendation that central government establish a targeted Youth Premium. Similar to the Pupil Premium in formal education, it will ensure disadvantaged young people get access to high-quality youth work support.

Reaching socially excluded young people: A national study of street-based youth work

Reaching socially excluded young people: A national study of street-based youth work

By David Crimmens, Fiona Factor, Tony Jeffs, John Pitts, Carole Pugh, Jean Spence and Penelope Turner.

This research, undertaken by a team from the Universities of Durham, Lincoln and Luton, addresses the question of the role of detached and outreach youth work in the post-1997 policy environment of outcome-driven youth initiatives, and in particular, how mainstream detached and outreach youth work might articulate with the Connexions Service to facilitate the involvement of socially excluded young people in forms of education, training and employment which are both relevant and accessible.

The research aims to explore the nature and range of streetbased youth work with socially excluded young people in England and Wales, to identify the effectiveness of agency strategies and practice interventions, and to establish how street-based youth work can best contribute to the Connexions Service and its key partnerships.

Reaching Socially Excluded young people: A national study of street based youth work:

Leading and Managing Youth Work and Youth Services

Leading and Managing Youth Work and Youth Services

This book has grown out of the Transforming Youth Work management programme developed by a consortium of the National Youth Agency, the Association of Principal Youth and Community Officers, the Department for Education and Skills, the University of Leicester and FPM. It aims to help leaders and managers of services for young people pause and think, and to build their capacity to lead and manage in a world of change and complexity.

The focus is on local authority youth services and voluntary sector youth organisations but it also recognises and is relevant for those working in wider services for young people.

The material is organised into 12 chapters ranging from the context of youth work and services, principles and theories of modern management, managing for high performance, a look at the future and making it happen. It is structured through a cycle of scanning, planning, deploying resources, delivering the service, monitoring progress, reporting to stakeholders and building relationships.

Leading and managing youth work services for young people:

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 5

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 5

Reporting your research findings for different audiences:

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 4

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 4

How to research sensitive topics:

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 3

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 3

Research interviewing skills:

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 2

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 2

Different data types and designing a questionnaire:

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 1

Young Researchers Network Toolkit session 1

Writing your research question and formulating a hypothesis:

Youth Work and Social Networking: final report

Youth Work and Social Networking: final report

How can Youth Work best support young people to navigate the risks and make the most of the opportunities of online social networking? September 2008 Tim Davies and Pete Cranston.

Working with young people to create a climate of change

Working with young people to create a climate of change

Sustainable development and young people. Merlynne A Francique. 2007.

What's Changed for Young People - Working with Local Authorities

What's Changed for Young People - Working with Local Authorities

This briefing aims to capture stories of good practice from across England where local authorities have worked in partnership with children and young people to make positive change.

Recording Young People's Progress and Accreditation in Youth Work

Recording Young People's Progress and Accreditation in Youth Work

Credit Where It’s Due: Guidance on Youth Service Benchmarks. 2005:

Engagement Network: young people's guide to working with local councillors

Engagement Network: young people's guide to working with local councillors

This guide has been designed to support young people and organisations working with young people in engaging
with local councillors and MPs. 2011.

Arts work with socially excluded young people

Arts work with socially excluded young people

This case study set features five youth arts projects in England and primarily explores their role in working with young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Awards for young people: Recognising learning in non formal settings

Awards for young people: Recognising learning in non formal settings

This publication is for youth workers and all those who work with young people in non formal settings who want to provide some form of accreditation for the young people they work with.

Youth Services in England - The State of the Nation

Youth Services in England - The State of the Nation

This publication provides a ‘state of the nation’ snapshot of the state of youth services within England. It is produced by the National Youth Agency (NYA) as part of its Routes to Success programme with the Local Government Association (LGA).

The Role of Youth Work in Supporting Troubled Families

The Role of Youth Work in Supporting Troubled Families

This publication has been produced to meet local authority youth work teams’ requests for more practical examples and case studies of current and potential involvement in the TF programme.

Summer Riots: Summary of existing literature and key observations - June 2012

Summer Riots: Summary of existing literature and key observations - June 2012

The summer riots of 2011 have been the subject of many published literature, ranging from official reports and statistics to independent research and news articles. This NYA document aims to summarise the key observations and answer some key questions, with a particular focus on young people.

Planned Expenditure by Local Authorities: Services for Young People

Planned Expenditure by Local Authorities: Services for Young People

Under Section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, local authorities are required to submit statements on the planned and expected expenditure of local authority education and children’s social care functions. Statements are submitted annually, and the latest statement published for 2012-13 covers the period 1st April 2012 – 31st March 2013.

The Department for Education publishes the budget statements, along with summary statistics and benchmarking tables, which enable comparisons to be made between local authorities. This document summarises some key observations from a review of the published Section 251 Budget data, focussing particularly on the area of Services for Young People.

Mapping the involvement of businesses in supporting services for young people in out of school settings

Mapping the involvement of businesses in supporting services for young people in out of school settings

The NYA has conducted a project to map and promote what the business community is already doing with regards to supporting service delivery for young people in out of school settings. The project captures the many ways businesses are supporting young people through a survey of Heads of Youth Services (or equivalent) and interviews providing case study examples of practice from councils and from the business community.

Key Housing Issues for Young People

Key Housing Issues for Young People

Young people are faced with a wide range of housing challenges in today’s society and there is evidence to suggest that they are three times more likely to experience rented housing and homelessness problems than other age groups.

The Future for Outcomes - a practical guide to measuring outcomes for young people

The Future for Outcomes - a practical guide to measuring outcomes for young people

This document brings together recent developments around outcomes based work with young people. Commissioned by the Local Government Association, it includes a discussion of the concepts, illustrated by findings from the pilots, and a step-by-step approach to designing an evaluation framework that focuses on outcomes.

The Future for Outcomes: The Calculator in Practice

The Future for Outcomes: The Calculator in Practice

This short paper summarises the learning from development of the calculator and piloting with two local authorities: Norfolk County Council and Staffordshire County Council.

Case Studies of youth work involvement in the Troubled Families Programme

Case Studies of youth work involvement in the Troubled Families Programme

Detailed case studies of how four local authorities are involving youth workers in the delivery of the Troubled Families Programme.

Brokering Engagement from the Business Community for the Youth Sector

Brokering Engagement from the Business Community for the Youth Sector

The National Youth Agency (NYA ), as part of its on-going work with the Local Government Association (LGA), has conducted a pilot project to test whether it is possible to leverage resources from the business community into the voluntary youth sector. Earlier research carried out by the NYA found that the business sector is already supporting services for young people in two thirds of local authorities however there is need to move from an ad hoc to a more strategic approach. There was an evident willingness to engage further from both business and local authorities.

Working with the British Chamber of Commerce and Manchester City Council the National Youth Agency undertook a project to test out whether it was possible to deliver support to voluntary youth groups via business, brokered by an intermediary.

Commission on youth work in education - National Youth Agency

Commission on youth work in education - National Youth Agency

NYA guide to youth work and youth services

NYA guide to youth work and youth services

NYA publication, providing an overview into youth work and youth services

Ethical conduct in youth work

Ethical conduct in youth work

A statement of values and principles from the National Youth Agency:

NYA Documents and Toolkits

Capturing the evidence

Capturing the evidence

Tools and activities for evaluation and recording the impact of youth work.

Exploring the Cost of Living Crisis

Exploring the Cost of Living Crisis

The cost of living crisis is proving and is set to be a time of deepening challenge and crisis for children and young people, with families facing rising costs and children and young people facing increased anxiety and worry.  

This learning resource has been produced by the National Youth Agency to assist youth workers and allied professionals in helping young people understand the cost of living crisis, develop essential money management skills and build emotional resilience and ways to manage their health and wellbeing.   

The resource is an essential toolkit for youth workers in all settings, as well as social workers and others working with young people using informal education.  

This practical, educational and easy to use toolkit consists of twelve independent sessions covering topics such as The Real Cost of Inflation; Savings: Informed decision making, delayed gratification and The Cost of livings’ impact on relationships and family life. It comprises a variety of games and resources which will help explain the world of finance and tax, as well as facilitate discussions on how the cost of living crisis is portrayed in the media, and self-care and well-being on a budget.     

All the activities in the resource fit with the NYA’s National Youth Work Curriculum – an educational framework and reference took for decision makers, policy makers, commissioners, youth workers and young people. 

 

National Occupational Standards for Youth Work

National Occupational Standards for Youth Work

This document outlines how the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work are applicable in England, specifically within the context of English Youth Work policy, training and professional standards, and practice.

10 Year Vision for Youth Work

10 Year Vision for Youth Work

As the National Body for Youth Work in England, the NYA has launched its thoughts for a ten year vision for youth work. We will engage with and lead cross sector consultation to translate this vision into a practical strategy, owned and shared by all in support of youth work.

This collective strategy will be published in Spring 2021 and can be used to:

  • Mainstream young peoples voices and needs into common understanding and responses at all levels (including aligning spending across government departments)
  • Inform the delayed three-year comprehensive spending review 2021
  • Secure long term understanding and ambition for youth work at national and local level through policy, commissioning and funding

Hear by Right

Hear by Right

Hear by Right is an organisational development tool that was established over 10 years ago. Built on a framework of seven standards with 20 indicators it describes best practice, supporting organisations to plan, develop and evaluate their participation practices and provision. It was created with and for young people fostering a culture of development; a continual journey for keeping young people at the heart of decision making whilst increasing their voice, influence and place within society. Click here to find out more.

Youth & Community pay agreement 2022

Youth & Community pay agreement 2022

NYA National Youth Work Curriculum

NYA National Youth Work Curriculum

The new National Youth Work Curriculum will enable a greater understanding of youth work practice, provide an educational framework and act as a reference tool to be used by decision makers, policy makers, commissioners, youth workers and young people. 

NYA would like to thank everyone involved in developing the new Youth Work Curriculum, alongside the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for supporting the development of the curriculum. 

Building a Stronger Britain toolkit - Speak Out

Building a Stronger Britain toolkit - Speak Out

This toolkit is designed to be used with young people aged 11+ to stimulate discussion, thought and reflection around key themes such as identity, belonging, diversity and community.

Actively addressing these issues encourages young people to build meaningful relationships with their peers and develop a strong sense of their identity, therefore reducing the risk posed by extremist narratives. Activities require minimal resources to enable them to be used in a variety of settings such as centre based, detached, schools and one to one work.

Please note, it takes an exceptional level of honesty, integrity and moral judgment to help young people explore their own values and beliefs without imposing your own.

The activities in this toolkit have been themed into three sections, with the aim of being simple to plan and deliver. They all encouraged learning through doing dialogue and having fun together.

Detached Youth Work Guidance - 15.06.2020

Detached Youth Work Guidance - 15.06.2020

This publication sets out the basics of detached youth work and other non-building-based forms of youth work, and locates them in the context of COVID-19.

Please click below to download:

NYA Quality Mark

NYA Quality Mark

The National Youth Agency Quality Mark enables organisations, however large or small, to reflect upon and review the services that they offer young people, enabling them to explore ways to develop and provide youth work to the best possible standard.   

You can find out more about the processes involved here or download the documents directly below:

Professional Validation Requirements

Professional Validation Requirements

Professional validation requirements for youth and community work qualifications in England:

Historical courses

Historical courses

Professional validation criteria and evidence template

Professional validation criteria and evidence template

Research and Policy

The social cost of youth work cuts report

The social cost of youth work cuts report

The social cost of youth work report provides an analysis of 74 sources of academic literature and research evidence relating to the impact of youth work on young people in contact with the youth justice system.

Joining the Dots

Joining the Dots

The ‘Joining the Dots’ was an investigative consultation commissioned by the National Youth Agency (NYA) in 2022 to better understand the needs of grassroots youth organisations and how the NYA, along with sector partners, can support frontline youth workers to make great youth work happen.

The report is supported by thoughts and insights from interviews with the NYA staff team, interviews with strategic partners within the sector and consultations at regional Roadshow events with regional and local youth organisations. This data was then collated to inform the NYA strategic review to ensure the organisation supports the needs of the sector at national, regional and local levels.

The National Youth Sector Advisory Board's Roadmap to a National Youth Strategy

The National Youth Sector Advisory Board's Roadmap to a National Youth Strategy

The Roadmap to a National Youth Strategy has been developed in consultation with youth sector experts within the NYSAB and with young people, setting out 15 policy recommendations for national government to bring about a step-change in the way that youth work is recognised and to get youth work better integrated into local strategies and multi-agency pathways to support young people. The Roadmap builds on the NYSAB’s 10 Year Strategy and aligns with the Back Youth Alliance’s vision for youth.

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Youth Work in Private Dwellings: Safety first – no compromise

Youth Work in Private Dwellings: Safety first – no compromise

This important resource ensures that youth workers are fully equipped to protect and safeguard young people, first and foremost. It also provides a useful reference for those commissioning youth work to ensure that their provision meets the optimum standards for safeguarding.  

The report includes a set of policy recommendations which place a greater onus on those delivering and commissioning youth work to be held accountable for the safety of youth work, including legislative changes; the registration of youth work spaces; and national guidance for local authorities.  

Better Together: Youth Work with Schools report

Better Together: Youth Work with Schools report

The Better together: Youth work with schools report is the result of a call for evidence and a survey of schools and youth work organisations, as well as interviews with young people. 

The report draws upon case studies and interviews collated from over 200 organisations, illustrating where youth work is taking place with schools and alternative provision, the different models of delivery and the impact on pupils. 

National Youth Sector Census: Report #2, Delivering Youth Work in England

National Youth Sector Census: Report #2, Delivering Youth Work in England

NYA Curriculum Briefing docs

NYA Curriculum Briefing docs

Each of these documents explain the NYA Curriculum in different contexts.

A selection of documents explaining the NYA Curriculum for different audiences.

Keeping Young People in Sight: Designated Safeguarding Leads in the Youth Sector

Keeping Young People in Sight: Designated Safeguarding Leads in the Youth Sector

Initial Summary of Findings from the National Youth Sector Census

Initial Summary of Findings from the National Youth Sector Census

Time's Running Out

Time's Running Out

With up to 1 in 4 youth centres under the threat of closure, and emergency funding for youth services coming to an end, failure to act now will decimate the youth sector leaving a generation of young people without opportunities to thrive.  NYA and YMCA’s joint report, Time’s Running Out, makes clear a national strategy is needed to secure youth services over the long term.

Overlooked: young people and rural youth services

Overlooked: young people and rural youth services

There is little or no co-ordinated provision in many rural areas to tackle inequalities and put young people at the heart of Covid-recovery. A new report, Overlooked: young people and rural youth services, makes clear there are vast gaps in local youth services. Hardest hit are the 2.2 million young people living in predominantly rural areas, living in villages, towns and coastal areas. They are consistently overlooked and, so far, missing from the government’s levelling up agenda.

Youth charities are 'running on empty'

Youth charities are 'running on empty'

Loss of funding and job cuts threaten the closure of many youth services through the winter. Left unprotected, youth services have already been cut by over 70% in less than a decade.  For every £16 cut on local services, £1 falls on youth work. While funding has been committed for schools and employment initiatives and some charities, delayed government funding for the youth sector has left many charities ‘running on empty’ with depleted reserves and income slashed by half or more.

Read more below

Between the Lines

Between the Lines

Drug Gangs Use Social Media To Groom Young People In County Towns

Young people are being groomed locally – ‘on their door steps’ – as drug gangs and dealers adapt the way they work to exploit young people across county lines. A new report, Between The Lines, published today by the National Youth Agency (NYA) highlights:

  1. There is an increasing trend for gangs to target vulnerable young people in county-towns and rural areas, as well as moving young people across county lines.
  2. This has been supported by increased use and diversification of social media platforms to groom different types of young people in-county and across county lines.
  3. There is a lack of sufficient youth services and support for young people in many of the county towns and rural areas, with a concentration of diversionary projects in the urban cities where gangs operate from.

Click on the report image below to read more.

Outside, Looking In Employment Report

Outside, Looking In Employment Report

Guidance for Local Authorities on Providing Youth Services

Guidance for Local Authorities on Providing Youth Services

Our new guidance supports local authorities in their statutory duty to secure local services. This includes the meaningful engagement of young people to ensure access to quality youth services at a neighbourhood level, whether they are directly delivered, commissioned by or run independently from the local authority.

Inside Out NYA-Brook 2020

Inside Out NYA-Brook 2020

This paper builds on the insights from the ‘Out of Sight?’ research report, on the known and emerging needs of young people through COVID-19, published by the National Youth Agency (NYA) in April 2020. We explore the impact of the pandemic on young people’s health and the role of young people’s services in support of vulnerable young people, in particular. The report draws on desk research carried out in July 2020 and valuable insights from Brook health practitioners and NYA team of specialist youth workers.

NYA COVID-19 Response July 2020

NYA COVID-19 Response July 2020

Call to mobilise youth workers as key workers

Youth workers have an important role to play in supporting young people. This report summarises key recommendations and the latest research carried out by the National Youth Agency (NYA) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It calls for lessons to be learned as we emerge from national lockdown, in response to local lockdowns and for sustained support to secure youth services for young people over the long term.

Time Out: Re-Imagining Schools - COVID-19

Time Out: Re-Imagining Schools - COVID-19

This paper builds on the insights from the ‘Out of Sight?’ research report, on the known and emerging needs of young people through COVID-19, published by the National Youth Agency (NYA) in April 2020.

We explore the role of youth services and youth work in schools and colleges, and the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable young people, in particular.

The report draws on valuable insights from our partners, based on their work with young people.

Hidden in Plain Sight - Gangs and Exploitation

Hidden in Plain Sight - Gangs and Exploitation

Hidden in Plain Sight – Gangs and Exploitation, A Youth Work Response to COVID-19

This new report includes insight from the front line of youth workers on their increased concerns for street-gangs and organised criminal gangs.

The importance of youth services has been stressed by national police chiefs, the Children’s Commissioner for England and recent national inquiries. NYA is calling for:

  • Youth services to be classified as an essential service and youth workers given key worker status
  • Clear Home Office guidance to embed youth services in Violence Reduction Units and other agencies now to meet immediate needs, and sustained over time
  • A Youth Service Guarantee, recommended by the Home Affairs select committee, to secure long term funding and greatly increase the number of youth workers

Please click the front cover below to download:

To see the original media release, please click here.

Out of Sight: Vulnerable Young People: COVID-19 Response

Out of Sight: Vulnerable Young People: COVID-19 Response

This report highlights the scale and prevalence of young people’s needs that are amplified by the pandemic. It draws on the latest data and vulnerability framework by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England, with valuable insights from partners and young people from across the youth sector. Our thanks in particular to the Centre for Youth Impact, Young Minds, NCS Trust and the NYA youth work experts group convened in response to COVID-19, and for the continued support from colleagues at Public Health England, National Police Chiefs’ Council, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Children’s Services

Responding to Youth Violence through Youth Work

Responding to Youth Violence through Youth Work

About this report

The issue of gang and youth violence has increasingly become a problem within some of the major cities across the United Kingdom. As figures related to knife and gun related violence soar in cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, academics, youth work practitioners and politicians alike are seeking answers to explain why in recent times violence is on the rise. What is critical at present is to identify which interventions are appropriate to engage in the issue with the aim of addressing it, reducing harm in the short term and prevention in the longer term. Therefore, this report will explore and highlight the need for youth work as a one of the appropriate responses to youth criminality.

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A guide to commissioning outcomes for young people

A guide to commissioning outcomes for young people

The purpose of this guidance from the National Youth Agency (NYA) is two-fold: firstly, to provide a guide for commissioners on how to involve young people in the commissioning process; secondly, to demonstrate how youth work and youth workers could be commissioned to deliver outcomes.

Please click the front cover below to download:

APPG Inquiry into Youth Work Report 2019

APPG Inquiry into Youth Work Report 2019

Research and Policy APPG Inquiry into Youth Work Report 2019

The National Youth Agency (NYA) supported the All Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Affairs (APPG) to lead a full national inquiry into youth work. The APPG Members of Parliament invited organisations from across England to submit evidence to the inquiry team, led by the NYA, to inform the analysis and findings of the inquiry.

Over 100 pieces of evidence were submitted from youth work projects, young people and practitioners. The NYA is grateful to the cross party group of MP’s who will lead this inquiry and special thanks also to the APPG secretariat British Youth Council and YMCA England & Wales for supporting this endeavour. On 4th April 2019, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Affairs, Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP launched the final report of the Inquiry into youth work. 

Download the report here:

Exploring the connection between social mobility and financial capability

Exploring the connection between social mobility and financial capability

The National Youth Agency is a member of the Single Guidance Financial Body (formerly Money Advice Service) Young Adults Steering Group and this report explores the idea that better financial capability can improve the social mobility of disadvantaged young people by helping raise awareness of the implications of financial decisions in the short, medium, and long-term.

Although there is strong evidence that financial capability can make a difference to how young people manage their money in the short-term, the impact this has on long-term social mobility is less clear. However, there are a range of innovative programmes that show how improved financial skills help young people to progress in their everyday lives. This paper argues that these positive steps can make an important contribution to their long term future.

QAA benchmarks for youth and community work 2017

QAA benchmarks for youth and community work 2017

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