The National Youth Agency - Aiming High Strategy

Aiming High Strategy

The strategy contains a number of other issues that are of interest. These include:

National Centre for Excellence

The government believes that there is a strong case for creating a single clear lead to support local delivery across public, private, and the third sector which would provide the following function:

Also of interest...

Defining and supporting the implementation of effective frontline practice in working with young people;
Shaping and facilitating a more diverse market of providers, including developing a 'light touch' kite marking scheme for high quality provision;
Working collaboratively to influence government departments;
Ensuring easier access to the market for third and private sector providers that are looking to invest in youth projects and facilities; and
Engaging publicly on the youth agenda, focusing on young people's participation in policy making and acting as an advocate for young people.
Following the publication of the strategy the government will examine how these functions could be better organised and delivered before publishing their final proposals.

Workforce

The government will introduce a new leadership and management initiative to support the development of a shared set of skills, knowledge and behaviour for leaders and managers across all sectors working with young people, particularly those leading the integration of youth support services. This will involve building on existing leadership programmes such as the 'championing children's standards'.

The government will also examine ways of encouraging more people into the workforce to whom teenagers can relate, and who can inspire them to make the most of their opportunities. In partnership with others, the government will test local initiatives to encourage more young people to take the next step in their careers by promoting and developing existing youth apprenticeships and undergraduate courses, supported by an investment of £25m.

They will also explore with national third sector youth organisations how best to work together when supporting the training needs of staff working in the third sector and volunteers.

It will also work with partners to introduce a common platform of skills and training for those across all sectors who work with young people, including developing new qualifications as appropriate for support staff. This will work on the basis of every member of the workforce having a strong understanding of different aspects of young people's development.

The government will also review current youth sector support arrangements with the aim of improving quality across all sectors. To support and develop the workforce the government will introduce a package of measures to improve the capacity of both managers leading the reform of local services and those working directly with young people, and to remove cultural barriers between agencies.

Community Cohesion

The government believes that all young people should understand what it means to be a British citizen and this strategy confirms that the Youth Citizenship Commission will examine ways to improve young people's understanding of their role and responsibility in society.