November EC Meeting 2019

The Labour Party’s Vision for Rebuilding Youth Services

Community Workers (JNC). Up until 2010 the NYA was funded by the government. However, the decision to abolish central government grants from 2011 meant that the NYA has not had sufficient resources to secure the future of youth work. A strong national body is vital for achieving Labour’s vision for youth services, which is why we will work with the NYA to strengthen its role and incorporate the distribution of funds to local authorities and LYPs. The national body for youth work and funding agency will be located within the Department for Education. This strengthened national body will include significant representation from young people and their organisations, and a voice for workers, via trade unions, on the body’s governance.

It will carry out the following functions:

• Audit youth provision across all upper-tier local authorities, including measuring levels of workers, buildings, and other fixed assets • Develop a resourcing strategy for workforce development for youth work, in consultation with national and local partners

• Frame standards for ‘sufficiency’

• Approve LYP plans

• Distribute funding to local authorities and LYPs

• Monitor local roll-out and support the development of LYPs

• Advise on professional and service standards

• Advise the government on policy development

• Evaluate impact and quality assurance

• Grant aid to key national bodies with specific functions, such as British Youth Council, as well as regional network bodies • Support local commissioners and providers through regional networks and youth work specific infrastructure providers

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