Youth Focus North East

After many successes the #ChildrenAtTheTable campaign, of which we are official supporters, has ended. The Children's Charities Coalition will continue working to ensure good childhoods are a national priority. Read about what we've achieved together: https://lnkd.in/evj35_Nm

📣 Calling all those 13-25 📣 We want to hear your thoughts on policing 🚔 and the police complaints system! ☑️ The IOPC Youth Panel Survey 2024/25 wants to hear from YOU 🪧 There’s currently an issue with the reputation of the police, particularly amongst young and marginalised groups. This is what this survey is for- it’s a chance for young people to wave a flag and say ‘we’re here’! 🚩 Your thoughts will be included in our annual report and heard by senior leaders- they can help drive long-term change for young people like us! 🧗♀️ Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/ewJnK2_m 🤙 #youthvoice #youthwork #youthsocialaction #youngpeople #youngpeoplematter #policeconduct #policecomplaints #youthsurvey #iopcyouthpanel

Ever wondered what ‘good’ really looks like when it comes to youth voice? Here’s your chance to find out! The new Youth Voice Observatory from The Centres at YMCA George Williams College is your one-stop databank showcasing the very best in youth voice practice. Browse here: https://bit.ly/3VbcdUY

The NYA is seeking views from all youth workers, volunteers and managers on how well equipped you feel about using digital in your youth work activities and services. Your feedback will inform the guidance and support developed by the NYA to improve the digital skills of the sector. Take the survey here: https://buff.ly/3V208Bi #YouthWork #DigitalSkills

Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages 2025 is open for registrations FREE events, activities and resources available from January to March 2025 Back for the 5th year running, our Festival in 2025 is offering even more opportunities to celebrate diverse languages and cultures and the region’s connections to the world. Inspire children and young people and empower them to discover a world of language, culture and creativity! Designed to spark curiosity and inspire young minds, the Festival is for children and young people (3-18 years) in schools, colleges and community schools and groups across Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland, and Durham. Schools nationwide can join in with selected events and all webinars. Register now for free activities between January and March and create your own Festival programme. From January to March, dive into multilingual creative projects and enjoy engaging pre-recorded workshops that can be delivered in schools (with teaching resources provided). In March there is an amazing choice of in person and online live events about world languages and cultures, languages and careers events and resources, on campus experiences for secondary pupils with Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham universities, as well North East and national competitions and language resources. Participation in any of our registered events automatically qualifies schools for an International School Award (ISA) Foundation Certificate. Festival activities can be used to progress with the ISA and also to support work around Schools of Sanctuary. There’s something for everyone—all available completely free.

The NYA’s Workforce Survey supports the development of a clear picture of the skills and capacity of the youth work sector. As the sector gears itself up for the opportunities that will be presented through a new National Youth Strategy, the findings of the Workforce Survey will help inform government, policy makers and funders of the investment, infrastructure and support needed to create a youth sector which is fit for purpose. As a thank you for taking part, you will also have the opportunity to win a £50 Love2Shop voucher. Every 100th survey entry will win a voucher to treat their club this festive season! Take the survey here: https://buff.ly/4i38hzg #YouthWork #YouthSectorWorkforce #NationalYouthStrategy

Great to see our Youth Strategy Manager, Heather Insull attending the North East Hub meeting for the NCS - National Citizen Service Trust Enrichment Programme.

Fantastic speech by our CEO Kevin Franks 👏🏻

Youth Focus North East is proud to hold the function of the Regional Youth Work Unit (RYWU) for the North East. Within this function we are a key member of the National Network of RYWU’S https://lnkd.in/e9WzWyf The Network welcomes the announcement of a National Youth Strategy by Lisa Nandy (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport), and the recognition that future policy is co-produced with young people, "policymaking must adapt to embrace young voices and listen to their aspirations for a better future". We know there is a huge need for local services for young people and a cross-departmental strategy that enables all parts of the system to come together to support the next generation. Across our network we are committed to working in partnership to support the strategy and deliver better outcomes for young people in a rapidly changing environment. Within this, we know that the financial climate is exceptionally challenging, Local Authorities have experienced huge cuts to services, and we do not underestimate the pressures they are experiencing. The Local Youth Transformation Pilots must draw from the many examples of collaboration already in place across the Voluntary and Community Sector with the statutory sector. They will require resourcing to achieve change and must be designed with young people and the diversity of groups who are there to support them to achieve maximum value and impact and the Dormant Assets funding will need detail on how it will address this deficit. For the youth sector, many funders have paused their funding, and the closure of the National Citizen Service will have an impact on the resources available to voluntary sector groups and through this the young people who are supported by them. It represents another cut to already depleted services and the need to reinvest any funding in local designed services is critical. We have worked with the National Citizen Service and extend our support to the team there at this challenging time. The youth sector continues to be a vital component to delivering improved outcomes with and for young people and we are enthusiastic about the proposal for cross-sector collaborations and young people at the heart of the new strategy.