Youth Works Programmes

As at August 2006 there are 20 Youth Works programmes operating throughout a number of deprived areas in England and Wales. Currently Youth Works programmes are at various stages of development in the West Midlands, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire with the roll out of these three programmes in 2006.

In addition first stages of development work is progressing in Manchester, Wigan and South Wales with the potential to roll out a number of new programmes in 2007.

In addition to the UK based programmes a new Youth Works initiative based in Ukraine commenced in September 2005. Please see the Ukraine Project page for further information.

For further details on the individual Youth Works programmes please click on each programme location on the map :

What we do

We work to establish projects for 8-25 year olds in some of the UK's most deprived areas, where young people often feel excluded, have poor access to education and leisure facilities and are at risk of not realising their full potential. We work in partnership with many statutory and voluntary organisations (for example the police, schools, Youth Offending Teams, youth service, probation service, Connexions etc) in these areas in order to reduce the likelihood of offending and to improve young people's education and life skills.

In addition to reducing crime and delivery practical neighbourhood renewal, Youth Works promotes social inclusion and improves employment opportunities for young and old.

Activities include :

		Community work - accredited training for volunteers and community leaders and drop-in centres for young people
		Preventative work - community link activities, working with families in crisis and school support programmes
		Diversionary work - after-school programmes, summer play schemes, sporting activities, arts and cultural projects
		Remedial work - mentoring 'high risk' young people, detached youth work and links with rehabilitation programmes
		Skills development - homework clubs, cyber cafes, IT training and work experience

Youth Works Manual

The purpose of the Manual is to provide Programme Managers, Steering Group members, local staff and the wider community with the tools to deliver a Youth Works programme. The Manual provides a step by step guide on how to ensure local resources meet local needs.

Building on 'what works', the Manual contains practical guidelines, which includes case studies, examples of good practice and tools for dealing with subjects such as health and safety, minimum standards for youth work, working with volunteers and risk assessments.

Manual Extracts

The Manual contains information on the following subjects :
     click to download contents page [Acrobat 135KB]

Working with at risk young people :
     click to download targeted approach page [Acrobat 167KB]

Existing and developing Youth Works programmes receive free copies of the Manual as part of their partnership agreement. If you wish to purchase a Manual please email info@youth-works.com for further information.