Young people and youth workers in Sandwell are highlighting the variety of youth work opportunities available, as part of the national Youth Work Week celebration.
This year the focus is on A right to youth work for all – delivering positive futures for young people.
Sandwell Council is proud of the wide and varied youth offer available to young people in the borough. The youth service is for all young people and provides opportunities ranging from open access youth clubs, detached youth work, youth arts, outdoor education to targeted youth support and mobile youth provision, which has recently benefitted from investment in two brand new youth buses.
This year, for the first time, the National Youth Agency has invited young people to take part in the Art of Youth Work campaign, by creating a piece of original music, dance, spoken word or visual art to unveil as part of Youth Work Week. Their creation aims to bring to life how their youth work provision provides a safe and inclusive space where young people can discover their talents, celebrate their identity and feel connected within their communities.
In Sandwell, we have been creating art work with young people to showcase their creativity and the support they get from their youth workers and the benefits of having access to youth provision. This will be unveiled at a staff conference during Youth Work Week when staff will be celebrating, learning new skills and sharing highlights from their work during the year.
The annual Youth Work Week event, hosted by the National Youth Agency, aims to raise awareness of the life-changing difference youth work has on young people aged between 8 – 21 years of age (up to 25 for those with special educational needs). It is a chance to raise awareness of the difference youth work makes to young people, providing them with somewhere to go, something fun to do, the chance to make new friends, learn new skills and receive the support of a trusted adult.
Councillor Mohammed Jalal Uddin, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said:
“We are proud of the diverse youth offer we have available to young people in Sandwell. Young people can access support from youth workers at their local youth club, on the youth bus or from detached youth workers.
“If they need more targeted support then they can access our enhanced youth support service which works with partners to support more vulnerable youngsters, helping them to overcome issues and barriers to success.
“Skilled youth workers in our youth service provide a range of opportunities for young people to take part in from performing arts, outdoor education, sports and physical activities to developing life skills and support with plans for their future.
“Our youth workers do a fantastic job of supporting young people all year round and it is great to be able to shine a light on the great work they are doing during this week.
“We would like to encourage young people to make use of the great facilities and youth offer we have available in Sandwell and access the support they need.”
For more information on the youth offer in Sandwell visit us online or follow us on facebook @JustYouthSandwell