The National Youth Agency - Strategic Framework 2006-2009

Strategic Framework 2006-2009

The purpose of the strategic framework is to give those who work for or with The National Youth Agency (The NYA) a clear sense of the direction and purpose of our work.

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This summary sets out our mission, principles and aims. It says how we intend to achieve these through specific priorities and partnerships and through strengthening the voices and choices of young people about their lives.

Our aims

The NYA has five strategic aims:

Participation: promoting young people’s influence, voice and place in society
Professional practice: improving youth work practice, programmes and other services for young people
Policy development: influencing and shaping the youth policy of central and local government and those who plan and provide services for young people
Partnership: creating, supporting and developing partnerships between organisations to improve services and outcomes for young people
Performance: striving for excellence in The Agency’s internal workings.

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The NYA’s priorities for 2006-2009 are to:

Promote the voice, influence and choices of young people
Foster young people’s active involvement and volunteering
Secure better outcomes for young people through Youth Matters
Strengthen the performance of youth work services and organisations through consultancy and partnership
Improve the impact of youth work for young people’s learning and achievement
Support the renewal and development of safe, youth-friendly neighbourhoods
Help implement the EU White Paper on youth policy and share what works with others in Europe and the wider world.

Our partners are fundamental in promoting and achieving our common goals. These include:

Youth Access – which shares our Trustee Board
YouthBank
the Rural Youth Network
the Federation for Detached Youth Work
The Federation of Muslim Youth Work
Local and national voluntary organisations
APYCO (Association of Principal Youth and Community Officers)
Regional Youth Work Units
The Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Workers.

Our resources

Staff The NYA employs 110 staff, most of whom are based in Leicester
The NYA’s Budget is £9.5 million per annum, mostly from Government departments.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Our mission: supporting young people to achieve their full potential The NYA works with organisations and services to improve the life chances of young people and also works directly with young people themselves to develop their voice and influence in shaping policy and securing social justice The NYA is an independent organisation, with its own Board of Trustees, responding to and influencing local and national government policy, representing the rights and needs of young people and promoting best youth work practice.

Our underpinning principles

The NYA holds the following principles and beliefs:

All people have rights and liberties including the right to be heard and be free from oppression
All people have skills, knowledge and experience that they can use for the benefit of themselves and others
Young people should be valued for who they are and not only for who they will become
Young people are agents of change and a resource to be developed
The needs of young people are often different from those of children and distinct from those of adults
Services for young people should be responsive to changing needs, interests and aspirations
The principal values and approaches of youth work should be sustained and refashioned for new times and settings
Continuous improvement in the quality of youth work and youth services helps secure better outcomes for young people
Communication of ideas and information has to be clear, accurate and timely and speak to a broad audience, including young people themselves
Development is based on shared learning between The NYA and the wider world.

Results for young people

In line with Government’s Every Child Matters framework, we strive to ensure that young people
Are healthy; enjoy good physical and mental health and adopt a healthy lifestyle
stay safe; are protected from harm and neglect and develop resilience
enjoy and achieve; get the most out of life now and gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for the future
make a positive contribution; are involved with the community and society
have the resources and skills for economic well-being, and are not prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential.

We believe that young people are more likely to achieve these outcomes if they can shape policies and influence programmes. We believe that youth work, which is The NYA’s main area of expertise, contributes significantly
to this.

Results for services and organisations

We strive to ensure that services and organisations are relevant to young people, responsive to policy, effective, efficient and successful in securing the best outcomes for young people.

Download the document

NYA strategic framework 2006-2009

If you would like a paper copy, please email Helena Ferrao-Read.