YOUTH WORK: SUPPORTING SCHOOLS IN THE RECOVERY PHASE
It has been an incredibly busy period for the youth work sector and it never fails to amaze me how resilient and adept at change youth workers are, notwithstanding the huge challenge presented by COVID-19 to the young people we support, and the sector itself. The significant challenge of securing sustainable funding for the sector is one that we continue to speak about in all our public affairs work, and on Monday with colleagues from the sector, we gave evidence to the Education and Skills Committee at the Scottish Parliament, based on the Youth Work Sector Leaders Report.
Keeping up with the pace of change and communicating is more important than ever. We have been producing weekly briefings and regularly updating the website, but I wanted to bring you up to speed on some key documents developed with the sector, which have been or are about to be published in the coming weeks:
Youth work: Supporting young people through and out of lockdown: A statement on behalf of the youth work sector in Scotland (copy attached and also available at https://www.youthlinkscotland.org/covid-19-guidance/)
Developed with the Youth Work COVID-19 Recovery Group, this document outlines the planned approach to the delivery of youth work with children and young people through and out of each phase of lockdown.
COVID-19 Education Recovery: Youth work – A Guide for Schools (copy attached and also available at https://www.youthlinkscotland.org/covid-19-guidance/
Developed with the Youth Work COVID-19 Recovery Group, this document explains how youth work can help schools to close the poverty related attainment gap and improve outcomes for all children and young people. This update provides additional information on opportunities to collaborate with youth work in the COVID-19 Recovery Phase. It is intended to support education authorities and school leaders, reflecting Scottish Government guidance on working with partners, to plan and deliver Curriculum for Excellence in the Recovery Phase, and ensure continuity of learning.
The DFM highlighted the role of the Youth Work Sector in his Statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday on reopening schools. It’s also worth noting new guidance which references youth work from Public Health Scotland https://publichealthscotland.scot/news/joint-statement-on-the-reopening-of-schools-and-other-educational-settings/
Digital Youth Work Guidelines (currently available at https://www.youthlinkscotland.org/covid-19-guidance/)
Resources to help the youth work sector to incorporate digital considerations into practice; these include a safeguarding checklist for online youth work.
The Youth Work Message to Young People Video (See Tweet Below)
We're here, and we're ready to give you the support you need as we move through the lifting of lockdown restrictions. #YouthWorkChangesLives
Check out our blog for projects you may want to get involved in https://t.co/ArVEblO5Cp pic.twitter.com/FgEfw4v3GZ
— Morayyouthwork (@morayyouthwork) July 6, 2020
Developed with the Youth Work COVID-19 Recovery Group and in partnership with Youth Theatre Arts Scotland. This video provides a clear message to young people about the support they can expect to receive from the Youth Work sector at this time.
Outdoor Learning and Education Recovery (Click on the image to read the document)
Developed with the YouthLink Scotland Outdoor Learning Providers Network this document provides information on opportunities to collaborate with outdoor learning organisations in the COVID-19 recovery phase. It is intended to support local authorities and school leaders, reflecting Scottish Government guidance on working with partners, to plan and deliver Curriculum for Excellence in the Recovery Phase and ensure continuity of learning.
Detached Youth Work Guidelines (See Tweet Below)
🆕 Today we launch our Detached Youth Work Guidelines. 🗣️🤝🙋♂️
This guide provides a framework for refreshing/revisiting detached and outreach youth work in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. #YouthWorkChangesLives
Please share!https://t.co/9UgitsaVLK
— YouthLink Scotland (@YouthLinkScot) July 9, 2020
These guidelines provide a structure for refreshing/revisiting detached and outreach Youth Work in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Outline Framework to support youth work delivery during easing of lockdown (Click on image below to read document)
Signposting youth workers to the relevant information and advice on planned delivery to ensure that appropriate public health measures are in place, the wellbeing of children, young people and practitioners is considered and ongoing risk assessment is carried out.
