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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions – NYA FAQs

About NYA

Youth Work

Youth Work Careers

Advice for Young People

About NYA

What has happened to the NYA annual audit?

Following a change in the way that the NYA is funded, we no longer carry out an annual audit of local authority youth services. The final audit was completed with information relating to the financial year of 2007/08. Data for 2007/08, including key findings, workforce and comparative finance tables, are available here: http://www.nya.org.uk/policy/annual-audit

Will the NYA’s annual audit be replaced?

There has not been a like-for-like replacement of the annual audit. The NYA has developed a ‘Youth Report Card’ which benchmarks performance for each Local Authority against 25 youth-related measures drawn from the National Indicator Set. An NYA Youth Report Card has been produced for each Local Authority area for the financial year 2008/09 and 2009/10 and is available for Local Authorities on request. For more information please contact: Alex Stutz, Research Coordinator.

Does NYA provide posters and other materials to display in our youth club?

No NYA does not provide posters or other materials for youth clubs. 

Does NYA have a mailing list?

NYA offers various e-bulletins – the details of which you will find on the Join our mailing lists page.

All subscriptions to these services are FREE.

Does NYA offer exchange visits?

NYA is unable to offer exchange visits but we would refer you Connect Youth.

I’d like to visit NYA – where is the office based?

The National Youth Agency address is: Eastgate House, 19-23 Humberstone Road, Leicester, LE5 3GJ NYA Switchboard: 0116 242 7350

I would like to purchase an NYA publication

All our resources are available online at: http://www.nya.org.uk/catalogue/ - this includes all our paid for publications, ebooks and free downloads.

I’d like to know more about Youth Work Week

To sign up for information and materials for Youth Work Week 2013, send an email with your name and contact details to communications@nya.org.uk

I'd like to know more about Hear by Right

Hear by Right helps you follow best practice on the safe, sound and sustainable participation of children and young people in the services and activities they take part in. It is applicable to any organisation working with young people, helping you provide evidence of the participation that is already happening in your organisation and then how to plan for improvement where there are gaps.

We have compiled a series of FAQs specifically focussing on Hear by Right - all your questions answered >> 

Can I join the National Youth Agency or can my organisation apply for membership?

No – the NYA is not a membership organisation.  We would refer you to the British Council http://www.britishcouncil.org/.  The British Council works to connect the UK to the world and the world to the UK, the British Council is Britain's international cultural relations body.

I'd like to contact NYA

If your question has not been answered here, please do use the Contact Us form and we will get back to you within 5 working days.

Youth Work

What is youth work?

Here you will find details about what youth work is: http://www.nya.org.uk/contact-nya-2/what-is-youth-work

And here is information about training in youth work: http://www.nya.org.uk/workforce-and-training

For specific training enquiries please email workforce@nya.org.uk.

I’m seeking funding for a local youth project – who can help?

The National Youth Agency does not provide any direct funding for youth work.  However, the following websites and resources provide information on funding opportunities for work with young people in England in a range of contexts.

  • Fundinginformation.org provides detailed news and information about new sources of funding for all those involved in raising money for not for profit organisations throughout the UK.
  • The Directory of Social Change operates an internet-based service giving details of a wide range of charitable trusts - see Trust Funding  It also publishes a Youth Funding Guide
  • Information on central government funding >>
  • Other online sources of support include FunderFinder which develops and distributes software to help individuals and not-for-profit organisations in the UK to identify charitable trusts.
  • UKFundraising also helps charities in the UK and internationally to use the internet as a fundraising tool.
  • Finance Hub provides a pack for funding advisers working with voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises. Each of the six guides provides practical information on a specific area of funding or finance, including case studies, tools and signposts to other resources.
  • Fit4funding offers free help and advice with funding for voluntary and community groups, and a monthly email newsletter service of the latest funding opportunities.
  • Funding Central is a free online guide to funding and finance opportunities for the voluntary and community sector, plus tools and resources to support organisations in developing sustainable income strategies. 

Is there funding available in Europe?

Eurodesk offers information about European funding for youth work activities or projects, and also funding for the professional development of staff. Contact them for more information.

How do I go about setting up a youth group?

YouthGroupGames provides a useful set of articles on aspects of setting up a youth group.

Where can I obtain insurance for my youth group?

  • Assuming the youth group meets in the same venue regularly, it is standard legal practice to acquire liability insurance for the building, the individual members of the group, and the staff. This means that everything is covered in the event of a mishap, whether it is an accident with paint or an injury sustained while playing a particularly active game. Hopefully, of course, you will never have to use the policy, but it makes good legal sense to have it there just in case. (YouthGroupGames)
  • Clubs for young people operate an insurance scheme to affiliated clubs and projects.
  • Childcare insurance specialist MortonMichael provide insurance for groups including youth clubs.
  • Youth club insurance can also be obtained from NCi Charity

Are there any statutory requirements for youth worker/young people ratios?

There are no statutory requirements for youth worker/young people ratios.  An HMI report for the Department of Education and Science in 1991 set out some examples of the activities and ratios of youth worker to young people which have been considered useful in developing a staffing model:

  • Counselling  1:1
  • ‘Difficult’ groups  1:3
  • Outdoor activities  1:5
  • Groupwork  1:6 to 1:8
  • Youth council/forum  1:10
  • Drop-in or open youth centre  1:15
  • Member-run activity  1:20
  • Social activities  1:25

(From Efficient and Effective Management of Youth Work – HMI, 1991).

What are Integrated Youth Support Services (IYSS)?

IYSS is made up of various organisations working in partnership to support young people in accessing services, including information, positive activities, advice and guidance.  Find out more >>

What is targeted youth support (TYS)?

The former government stated: Targeted youth support is delivered collaboratively through a range of services, including: education welfare, behaviour support, Connexions, youth services, social services, drugs and alcohol, sexual health, mental health, housing support, school nurses, youth offending services; and through Positive Activities for Young People, the Young People's Development Programme, Positive Futures, youth inclusion programmes, and the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.  Read the definition in full >>

Youth Work Careers

Where can I get a grant to help with my studies?

Financial help if you are studying is available for some young people.  Find out if you qualify >>

Educational Grants Advisory Service EGAS offers a range of services providing information on funding for those in post-16 education in England.  EGAS specialises in funding from charitable trusts and maintains a database of trusts and charities that assist students.

I’m interested in becoming a youth worker.  Where can I find out more?

Please contact our training team for more information regarding qualifications and training at: training@nya.org.uk and visit the workforce area of our site: http://www.nya.org.uk/workforce-and-training

I’m looking for a job in youth work – can NYA help?

If you are looking for job opportunities in the youth work sector, we'd recommend you visit: http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Careers/

I’d like to know more about JNC Pay Scales

Find out all you need to know about current pay scales >>

I'm interested in a career in probation - can you help?

The best way into work with young offenders is to be a volunteer and see if you enjoy it and also begin to find yourself some training and support.  Visit the Youth Justice Board website for more information. Here you can locate your local YOT and arrange to drop in for a chat. There are a number of opportunities available - for example, ask about being a Referral Order Panel member.  This offers access to good training and more information about the role a probation officer has. 

Advice for Young People

What's happened to Youthinformation.com?

You will notice we have slimmed down the youthinformation.com website.  This is now included as part of the NYA’s main website.  You will find some of the key content from the original website linked through our new site but where content has been removed we would now urge you to visit our partner websites at: www.thesite.org.

I am a young person in need of help and advice - can NYA help?

NYA provides some useful information for young people at: www.youthinformation.com but would also recommend you visit www.thesite.org for factsheets and articles on all the key issues facing young people including: sex and relationships; drinking and drugs; work and study; housing, legal and finances; and health and wellbeing. 

If you are in need of counselling services contact: www.youthaccess.org.uk

Where can I find posters depicting positive images of young people?

UK Youth produce a number of posters showing positive representations of young people.

Where can I find out about positive activities/things to do in my local area?

Contact your local authority or visit the Connexions website.