THE YOUTH WORK CURRICULUM

1. The Executive Member has approved a document entitled "Hampshire County Council Youth Work Curriculum" which sets out the approach the Youth Service will use to develop the youth work curriculum to engage with young people. The move towards a youth work curriculum stems from the Government's report "Resourcing Excellent Youth Services". The purpose of the curriculum is to enhance the quality of youth work by providing guidance, clarity of focus and a resource to support initiatives. It has been produced through a process of consultation with the full involvement of young people. It will also provide the cornerstone for the further development of partnerships with voluntary and other outside organisations in the provision of youth work.

2. The aim of the youth service curriculum is to promote and deliver opportunities which are fun, challenging, supportive and exciting for young people, enabling them to learn, develop and respond to change. It provides a framework for young people's personal and social development by:

· creating opportunities to encourage them to achieve their potential as members of groups and within their communities.


· supporting them during the transition to adulthood.


· providing learning opportunities which are challenging and encourage a critical and creative response to the wider world.


· promoting their influence and involvement in decision making and active citizenship.


· providing a safe, trusted and informal environment in which to deliver integrated services.


· providing community-based youth work that is culturally appropriate and diverse, and encourages access and engagement of hard to reach groups.

3. Among the priority areas of skills, knowledge and understanding will be:

· Personal and social skills and high aspirations.


· Democracy and decision-making.


· Social Inclusion.


· New Opportunities and challenging experiences.


· Healthy lifestyles.

In addition to the more traditional meeting places, projects and activities, the curriculum envisages extensive consultation and involvement of young people; access to confidential information, advice and counselling; opportunities for volunteering and voluntary action; and programmes which offer accreditation of learning. The curriculum is not set in tablets of stone and there will be a process of needs assessment, programme planning and review to respond to circumstances as they change. Plans, programmes and learning outcomes will be the subject of consultation with and involvement of the young people who are to participate.

D.G. Allen
Executive Member
Education

8FR55803