Some thoughts ... NYA Youth Work Roadshow, North East

I attended a day's conference hosted by Youth Focus North and delivered by The National Youth Association (NYA) at Sunderland University recently. I was one of the few arts/music workers in the room and found it to be very useful and informative. Over the last twenty years statutory Youth Services have virtually disappeared from the north east region. The Voluntary sector has attempted to fill the void and this has been challenging. Since 2010 youth work has not been a part of any significant government policy.

However the Chancellor Sajid Javid's recent Spending Review announcement asked DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) to develop proposals immediately for a new youth investment fund. This announcement is the first step in offering young people across the country safe spaces and high-quality youth opportunities in their communities.

https://www.iwill.org.uk/leading-youth-charities-welcome-spending-commitment-to-youth-services

The Chancellor and the police achknowledge that to in order to fully address the rising tide of youth related crime and social unrest there is a need for active, on the ground, youth work. The NYA welcome these comments and stress that in order to be able to do this, training is needed. At the moment the NYA estimates that 75% of all adults working directly with young people have had no trsining at all not even in safeguarding.

I came away from this conference day asking myself what the role of 'community music' might be in revitalising the youth sector and how might we work closely with youth workers in these 'safe spaces'. Such places would include revamped Youth Club provision and there is no reason for this not to include recording and music making facilities. Also what can we contribute in terms of training provision? Along with other AMIE organistaions across the country we have been expanding and developing our training offer. One part of our offer is Comusica Exchange, a free development opportunity for emerging Music Leaders to gain invaluable knowledge and experience by being part of a learning group that is committed to inclusive music practice in North East England.

https://sagegateshead.com/get-involved/children-young-people/comusica/comusica-exchange-2/

Looking forward there might be scope to align some of this training/development to youth work practise and ideas as to how we do this could include CoMusica Exchange being offered to youth workers as part of a wider youth work training opportunity such as a Level 2/3 Apprenticeship. ... much to think about!