Fit4Purpose

'Strengthening infrastructure support for voluntary and community organisations working with young people.'

Fit4Purpose was a pilot quality development and learning programme designed to assist local youth infrastructure organisations and networks in their support of voluntary and community sector (VCS) youth organisations working directly with young people. It was designed to have links to existing quality frameworks and training.

The project to develop Fit4Purpose was part of a DfES-funded initiative to develop the capacity of the VCS to engage effectively with Children’s Trusts and service delivery to the children, young people and families sector. NCVYS was part of the VCS Engage consortium working towards infrastructure and capacity development of the children & young people’s VCS and was responsible for activities within its Youth Strand.

This report was commissioned by NCVYS in January 2007, to identify the main learning and development skills needed to strengthen infrastructure support for voluntary and community organisations working with young people. Its findings are based on the analysis of a skills audit questionnaire, telephone interviews, a focus group and the review of generic and youth specific quality frameworks.

The full report can be downloaded here: Fit4Purpose Report

Additional VCS Capacity Building Needs Following Implementation of Youth Matters

The government made a significant commitment to work with young people in Aiming high for young people: a ten year strategy for positive activies, which builds on the developments from Transforming Youth Work to the Youth  Matters green paper and beyond.  The government has stated many times that it sees that the voluntary and community sector has an important role to play.

One thing is true as a result of Every Child Matters and Youth Matters, the development of children's trusts and the emergence of local area agreements there has been an enormous change in the local decision making process in which the voluntary and community sector works. This presents considerable opportunities and challenges for the sector.

To access the report click on: Capacity Implications of Youth Matters Report