Young Adults Learning Partnership (YALP)

Overview of YALP

What we do

What we can offer

Principles underpinning our work

YALP is a joint initiative between NIACE and The National Youth Agency. The Partnership was formed in 1997. The partnership researches, develops, manages and disseminates effective approaches to learning and personal development with young adults (aged 16-25). YALP works within the areas of education, training and employment to support young adults in recognising their abilities as young workers, parents and citizens. YALP also work closely with practitioners in the field to assist them in sharing and developing effective and innovative practice, and to build capacity to create exciting and engaging learning opportunities for young adults.

What YALP does

YALP works in partnership with service providers and agencies, and more importantly young adults themselves, to explore and understand the social circumstances and experiences that shape young adults’ attitudes towards learning. YALP is particularly interested in working with young adults who are not in employment, education and training, including young offenders, young adults from minority communities, and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

YALP’s work can be split into three areas:

Research and Development

The main focus of work is researching and developing effective approaches to learning and personal and social development among young adults, such as;

• Young parents’ experiences of family learning
• The role of informal education in literacy, language and numeracy development
• The learning needs of young adults with mental health difficulties
• Approaches to providing learning through youth arts activities
• Developing speaking and listening skills

YALP’s approach is to address key issues in work with young adults, and contribute to knowledge and practice sharing across sectors. We aim to work creatively and imaginatively, to respond to new ideas and developments in learning among 16-25 years olds. Our work also includes consultancy and evaluation of the provision of informal learning for young adults.

Information services

We offer the following information services for practitioners working with young adults.

The YALP website

YALP briefing papers

These services are critical for sharing knowledge and in offering support and guidance to practitioners from a wide range of sectors. YALP also organises conferences and briefing events, and awareness raising training.

Programme management

Since 2000, YALP has managed Getting Connected, a curriculum framework designed to help young adults on the margins of education and employment to reconnect with learning and develop personal and social skills. Getting Connected is made up of nine units, which can be accredited by OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA).

The success of the Programme hinges on effective relationships being developed between a young adult and their mentor. Youth workers can train to be a mentor, for example, youth workers, Connexions PAs, health workers, probation staff, social workers, volunteers - anyone working with young adults. A comprehensive Mentor Development Staff Training Programme is available throughout England and Wales. This programme is designed to enable mentors, and potential mentors, to gain an understanding of the nature of the curriculum framework and how it can be used with young adults.

At the beginning of this year, a new partnership has been formed to take Getting Connected forward into 2008 and beyond. From the 1st of April 2008, Getting Connected will become part of the Birmingham-based University of the First Age (UFA). Over the past five years, over 4,000 young adults have achieved success in 6,000 units of the Getting Connected Curriculum Framework, but YALP has always wanted to expand the reach of the programme to work with more learners, practitioners and projects, and to take Getting Connected to new sectors. A partnership with UFA represents a great opportunity to develop and progress all that the Getting Connected programme has achieved.

UFA will assume responsibility for all elements of Getting Connected from the 1st April 2008, and YALP will be working closely with them between now and then to ensure a smooth transition. In the meantime, training, external moderation and claims for certification will carry on as normal through the team based at The National Youth Agency. All of these activities will continue beyond April 2008, co-ordinated by UFA.

What YALP can offer

• Getting Connected curriculum framework and www.lookingforward.org.uk (young adults and mental
  health)
• Contact us for a range of free and for sale publications addressing key issues in work with young adults. A publications fact sheet and details of how to obtain them can be found on our website.
• Talk to us about the consultancy services we offer; in particular research, innovation and evaluation, to national and local organisations that are concerned to provide more effective policies and provision for vulnerable young adults that foster their learning and development.

Principles underpinning YALP’s work

• Each young adult is unique; there are many reasons for disengagement. Although some of these reasons may be constant, others are diverse and complex.
• It is important to recognise the power of peer group pressure and culture in determining young adults’ decisions and actions about staying in or returning to learning
• Age makes a difference. 16-18 year olds are more inclined to move in and out of programmes, sampling different options, but those aged 18 and over tend to be more vocationally-directed and decided. Young adults aged 19 plus who have been on the margins of EET since leaving school need particular support to engage in learning.
• Provision is most effective when a holistic approach is taken, incorporating the needs, interests and aspirations of each young adult. Effective partnerships are vital if such an approach is to work
• Outreach is effective in making contact with those who are disengaged from employment, education and/or training. Contact should be frequent and sustained to build up trust and increase young adults' confidence and levels of achievement
• Incentives remain important in motivating young adults to learn, these include rewarding relationships with practitioners, money, stimulating programmes and awards and qualifications
• A safe and welcoming environment with supportive staff and sensitive assessment is a good place to start
• Opportunities for achieving success at frequent intervals should be part of the programme and project design
• The curriculum should feature a combination of key and vocational skills and opportunities for personal development
• Intensive practice is necessary if impact is to be achieved
• Clear pathways of progression and continuous support are vital in building on achievement
• Outreach, assessment, guidance, coaching, teaching and learning, advocacy, support and mentoring should be available at all points in the young adults’ development

YALP Information Leaflet - [PDF]

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