The National Youth Agency - Quality Mark launch March 2008

Quality Mark launch March 2008

The National Youth Agency hosted an event in conjunction with the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services in Westminster in March 2008 to celebrate the achievements of the Quality Mark National Award holders and to launch a number of new products associated with the raising of standards and the achievement of quality for the youth work sector.

The event provided an opportunity to re-launch The NYA Quality Mark framework (previously known as YSQM) which was recently revised to meet the needs of Integrated Youth Support Services.

Also of interest...

In addition, The NYA launched a new Workforce Development Self-Assessment Framework. This toolkit encompasses the elements of effective workforce development planning, and guides an organisation through a process of developing a policy framework. Linking to the Quality Mark, it enables organisations to focus on the Workforce standard of the Quality Mark.
Find out more about the Workforce Development Self-Assessment Framework >>

A joint publication from The NYA and NCVYS: Raising the Standards: a guide to quality systems in the youth sector was also launched. This publication was produced following the successful Quality Exchange event that was held in May 2007 and acts as a mini-guide designed to provide information and guidance on quality assurance systems for the youth work sector and raise the profile of such systems with policy makers, funders and commissioners.

Summary sheets about all 3 products are available to download:

Summary sheet Quality Mark (June 2008)

Summary sheet Raising the Standards (June 2008)

Summary sheet Workforce Development (June 2008)

There were three key note speakers at the event:

Quality Mark National Award Holders (image two)

Fiona Blacke, Chief Executive Officer of The NYA spoke about the new products and how they link to Aiming High for Young People: A ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities
Susanne Rauprich, Chief Executive Officer of NCVYS talked about the Quality products and how they will specifically assist the Third Sector
Tony Gallagher, HMI explored the notion of quality and how engaging with tools and systems that relate to quality and driving up standards is beneficial to young people, as the receivers of services.

The event also provided a platform for all ten organisations to be presented with their Quality Mark National Award, recognising and celebrating their achievements in meeting the eleven standards contained within the framework. Young people and officers from the award holding organisations attended the event and picked up their awards. The ten award holders are Black Country Connexions, Bradford City Centre Project, Bradford Youth Service, e:merge (voluntary youth sector project in Bradford), Halton Youth Service, London Borough of Hillingdon Youth and Connexions Service, Nottingham City Youth Service, North East Lincolnshire Integrated Young People’s Support Service, Rotherham Young People’s Services, West Sussex Youth Service.

Quality Mark National Award Holders (image one)

Quotes from the event from Quality Mark National Award Holders

“Members of our Quality and Standards team attended a “Preparing for the National Award” event to give us more in depth detail about the standard and the submission process.

We found the Quality Mark invaluable in ensuring that the young person’s perspective informs all our planning and decision making. The process of achieving the award was robust and testing, bringing into focus much good practice on which to build. Having the award is a reflection of the confidence young people have in Black Country Connexions and of the hard work our staff put into delivering an excellent service.

Black Country Connexions are proud to be the first Connexions organisation to attain the Quality Mark and this reflects our commitment to deliver continuously improving services to the young people of the Black Country.”

David Crichton, Black Country Connexions

“As a young person and previous user of BCCP services and now as chair of the Youth Action Support group and a member of the Board I can confirm to you that BCCP are working hard to meet the needs of young people in Bradford.

Our organisation believes that measuring our service against a national benchmark gives us the confidence and encouragement to continue to do good work. We must not be complacent. We must continue to improve and develop. By doing this we are building communities and contributing to a developing society that is tolerant, appreciative, understanding and respectful of others. By creating such a culture we will indeed significantly reduce disadvantage and deprivation.”

Chris Darwin, Youth Action Support (Chair), Bradford City Centre Project

“Achieving this quality mark has given us confidence in our own ability and will raise the confidence of our partners in the statutory and voluntary sector in our ability to deliver youth work to a high standard.”

Jan de Villiers, Charity Director, e:merge

“In Halton the Quality Mark process has been valuable in making sure young people get an improved and a good Youth Service.”

Amanda Tollerton, Area Youth Forum member and Young Inspector-Halton Youth Service

“Youth workers, partners, senior officers and elected members are all proud of our achievements. Gaining the award has been great recognition for all of the dedication and commitment of Halton Youth Service employees and volunteers.”

Stefan Cadek, Operations Manager, Halton Youth Service

“It has been an amazing journey over the past three years. Young People deserve the best services that meet their needs, enable them to enjoy and achieve in their leisure time, and empower them to have a voice and make a difference. The Young people of Halton now have a good Youth Service that helps make this happen.”