National Youth Agency

This year’s theme for Youth Work Week (3–9 November 2025) is “Building Brighter Futures: Safe places, trusted support, and opportunities to thrive.” We’re celebrating the vital role youth work plays in helping young people feel secure, supported and empowered to reach their full potential. From inclusive spaces to skilled youth workers, this campaign shines a light on the people and places that help shape brighter futures every day. Whether you're a youth worker, young person, organisation, policymaker or supporter there’s a way for you to get involved: ✅ Share your story or creative content ✅ Host or attend a local event ✅ Use your platform to raise awareness ✅ Explore our campaign resources and online practice sessions 📅 Save the date: 3–9 November 2025 📢 Use #YouthWorkWeek and #YWW25 to join the conversation 🔗 Learn more: www.nya.org.uk/yww25

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Kerry Jenkins, a ferocious advocate for youth services and young people. https://lnkd.in/e69K2ii2

🌟 Congratulations to Y Services for earning NYA Advanced Level Quality Mark! Recognised for their inclusive, youth-led approach and commitment to empowering young people across South East Hampshire, the organisation is setting the standard in transformative youth work. Laura Keegan, Local Quality Improvement Manager, NYA said: “Y Services demonstrates outstanding commitment to involving young people in all aspects of their work. Their focus on listening, adapting and supporting young people’s growth creates meaningful impact by empowering them to take an active role in shaping their own futures.” This award reflects the Y Services team and trustees' dedication and the wide-reaching positive impact of their work 👏 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEs_hARH #YouthWork #NYA #QualityMark #YouthEmpowerment #CommunityImpact #YServices

“It’s not just a job – it’s who you are. You have to be a youth worker in your heart.” explains Rob Oulton, 24, Adolescent Practitioner at Surrey County Council who shared his personal journey into youth work with us, starting at just 15 years old, as a young person seeking support. From attending a local youth club in Guildford during a time of personal trauma, Rob found a safe space, a mentor and eventually a vocation. He began volunteering at 16, gained his Level 2 in Youth Work and built his career step by step, always focused on giving back. As a student on the BA (Hons) Social Science, Community Development and Youth Work course at Goldsmiths, University of London Rob deepened his understanding of anti-oppressive practice and built his confidence to lead, listen and advocate for young people. Today, Rob works directly with young people and families facing complex challenges, helping them feel heard, valued and supported. His story is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact youth workers can have and how lived experience, when supported, can transform into leadership. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/efmeHBni #YouthWork #Degree #Inspiration #FutureLeaders #SurreyCouncil #GoldsmithsAlumni

“Why legislation alone won’t end the postcode lottery of youth work support" by Leigh Middleton, OBE, Chief Executive of the National Youth Agency. As local governments face reform, this Opinion piece in TheMJ calls for a Statutory Youth Services Act, long-term funding, and guidance on sufficiency benchmarks to ensure every young person has access to quality youth work, no matter where they live. 📄 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eAVjpDwR

🚨 Our policy paper 'Lifting young people up through youth work' calls on national and local government to embed youth work at the heart of the prevention agenda and strategies to support those at risk of engaging in or being affected by serious violence. It also calls for greater access to youth work to improve all young people’s lives and future outcomes. Developed following insights gathered at the Youth Endowment Fund and NYA Annual Youth Work Conference in March, the paper outlines seven key recommendations – including crucial long-term funding and workforce recruitment and retention investment. 📑 Read the full 'Lifting young people up through youth work' report: https://lnkd.in/e_JEX_rH #YouthWork #YouthViolencePrevention #YEFxNYA #YouthWorkMatters

The NYA is pleased to have been involved in the design and evaluation of a two-year Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST) commissioned by Department for Education, through our role on the Steering and Advisory Board for the programme. The final report by Youth Endowment Fund highlights the value of youth workers as part of specialist teams in supporting pupils at risk of exploitation and violence with attendance, safeguarding and building their confidence and engagement with positive activities. Through an evaluation of 20 APST teams from 2021-3 the report highlights the benefit of a trauma-informed approach to supporting and safeguarding highly vulnerable young people, providing support for unmet mental health needs and ‘preparing the ground’ for another specialist to provide support. Read the report at https://lnkd.in/emXzjzUN

Ready to take your youth work to the next level? Join us for Filtering the Fake: Integrating Digital Literacy into Youth Work, a training session designed to help you navigate the digital world with young people. In today’s age of misinformation, it’s more important than ever to equip the youth with the skills to think critically and engage safely online. Find out more and sign up now 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/euggRpJT

In case you missed it, this month we revealed the theme for Youth Work Week 2025! Building Brighter Futures: Safe places, trusted support, and opportunities to thrive. We’re celebrating the vital role youth work plays in helping young people feel secure, supported and empowered to reach their full potential. From inclusive spaces to skilled youth workers, this campaign shines a light on the people and places that help shape brighter futures every day. 📅 Save the date: 3–9 November 2025 Find out how to get involved on our website 👇 👇 https://nya.org.uk/yww25/ 📢 Use #YouthWorkWeek and #YWW25 to join the conversation

The Government has responded to the 2024/25 Youth Select Committee’s recommendations following their in-depth inquiry into the link between harmful social media content and youth violence. The Committee’s final report called for a range of measures including stronger regulation of social media and multi-agency approaches to youth violence. Representing the views of the Committee, Wania Ahmad, Chair welcomes the Government’s commitment to enforcing the Online Safety Act, investment in a police unit to crack down on harmful content, and invest in youth services and media literacy whilst emphasising the importance of the continued engagement of young people in shaping safe online spaces. To read the full report, follow the link: https://lnkd.in/etgrbejV #YouthParticipation #YouthVoice #UKYouthParliament #YouthViolence #YouthWork #Safeguarding