National partners

Although PYL is first and foremost a regional body, addressing issues specific to young people and youth practitioners in London, many topics are of relevance to all young people, and can be better addressed by bringing together expertise nationally. Here are some of the most recent highlights from our national partnership working.

National Youth Agency (NYA)

PYL and the NYA have worked closely together since PYL was set up in 2005, and a working agreement between the two organisations outlines the ways in which we work together. These include:

  • Sharing information and contributing to each other's programmes and activities
  • Developing and implementing new policy
  • Mutually recognising each other as the respective regional/national partner of choice
  • Working jointly to identify possible funding streams.

The NYA provides each region with a link officer, as a first line of communication and shared working. In London we are fortunate to have Fiona Blacke, Chief Executive of NYA as our link. We have defined shared priorities for 2009, which include a focus on young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), and the 14-19 agenda.

FPM Training

The Government’s “Aiming High for Young People: a ten year strategy for positive activities” and the 2020 Children and Young People’s Workforce Strategy made commitments to develop leaders and managers in the youth workforce in both the statutory and third sectors. This commitment is now being put into action. The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has contracted a consortium led by FPM Training to design, develop and deliver a new range of leadership and management programmes which will build the capacities of managers to deliver effective, integrated services for young people. 

Over 5,000 service leaders and frontline managers will receive training in the three-year programme. Starting in March 2009, the Leadership Enhancement Programme was for heads of local authority services, each paired with a third sector partner.

This has been followed in 2010 by the Leadership Development Programme for senior managers as future leaders. Recruitment is now under way for frontline managers to take part in the Management Development Programme, across all sectors and disciplines for the effective delivery of integrated youth support services. Cohorts of 20 managers from a local authority area will focus on the prevailing imperatives of their area, including the Children and Young People’s Plan and Local Area Agreements. All places are funded by CWDC.

Contact: mailto:robert.weatherhead@fpmonline.co.uk

Network of Regional Youth Work Units: England (NRYWU:E)

In 2008, eight Regional Youth Work Units (RYWUs), including PYL, formed a network to :

  • Support and strengthen the capacity of RYWUs, and promote the development of best practice amongst RYWUs in all English regions
  • Enable RYWUs to work collaboratively on youth work practice, and services to young people in the regions, including organising joint activities/events with RYWUs and other partners
  • Identify potential opportunities for collaboration between RYWUs in securing national and European funding for regional developments
  • Establish England-wide working relationships with other national organisations with an interest in promoting youth work and services for young people.

More information can be found in the network's Terms of Reference.