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News: Funding Guide for Workforce Development

News: Social Enterprise Leaders Programme

Social Enterprise Leaders Programme - inspiring leaders to build a sustainable sector

The Catalyst consortium, a NCVYS coordinated partnership with the National Youth Agency, Social Enterprise UK and the Young Foundation, are providing a fantastic opportunity for Catalyst member networks:

‘Youth organisations – Social Enterprise Leaders Programme’

Social Enterprise UK have designed this programme to inspire and equip leaders of youth organisations, charities and social enterprises with the tools to grow and sustain a vibrant and viable organisation. The programme, valued at £2,300, is on offer completely FREE to the first 10 members accepted onto the programme who can commit to the programme schedule. Otherwise, it will cost a discounted price of £170 (+ VAT) per person.

If you wish to address the challenges of the sector as well as attain or develop the essential requirements of leading an effective, innovative and successful enterprise, Click here for the information pack and here for the application form. Please read the information pack carefully before completing the application form to be sure you meet the programme requirements.

News: Business in the Community - press release

Partnership Made Easy – Government funds a new £320k initiative to bring business together with the voluntary youth sector

Following yesterday’s announcement of new government youth policy ‘Positive for Youth’ a group of national charities are coming together to help broker relationships between businesses and organisations that support young people in England.

Responsible business charity Business in the Community, UK Youth and the National Children's Bureau have joined forces to develop a simple model for brokering relationships between businesses and the youth sector at a national, regional and local level.

Click here to read more.

News: NCVYS response to Positive for Youth

The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) welcomes the Government’s launch of Positive for Youth, but calls for urgent action.

NCVYS Chief Executive, Susanne Rauprich, says: “Today we can be positive about the Government. The publication of Positive for Youth follows 18 months of lobbying from NCVYS and the youth sector for the Government to articulate its vision for young people. We applaud the Government for responding. However, no vision or policy is worth anything if it isn’t followed by clear and decisive action.”

Our response is supported by a large number of our member organisations. To read more please click here.

News: Safer Future Communities - press release

Safer Future Communities press release:

Following an online survey about police commissioner reforms, Safer Future Communities have released their initial findings:

"One in three community groups are not yet aware of next year's elected police commissioner reforms according to research by Safer Future Communities - a new partnership to help prepare the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sectors for the changes."

Please click here to read the rest of the release.

Please click here to read more about the Safer Future Communities partnership.

News: NCVYS welcomes new members

NCVYS welcomes new members

Following our most recent trustee board meeting NCVYS has now welcomed four new members. Please follow the links to find out more about the great work they do.

Aik Saath – Together As One

Aik Saath is dedicated to the promotion of peace and racial harmony through the teaching of conflict resolution skills in the local community of Slough and its surrounding areas. Through their work they hope to raise self-esteem, empower and train young people to become peer trainers, and for them to work with other young people in developing conflict resolution skills and in turn contribute to their personal development.

Aik Saath is made up of young people with ages ranging from 12-25. This team of young people are for the most part made up of young Asians from the Sikh, Muslim and Hindu communities due to the historical context from which Aik Saath originated. However, this does not mean in any way that Aik Saath is exclusively open to young Asians; they encourage young people from all communities to be a part of the project.

Aik Saath are joining NCVYS as one of four YPA winners in 2011

Livity

Livity is a socially responsible youth communications agency that works directly with young people every day to produce co-created campaigns and content for brands, broadcasters, charities and local and central government that achieve client objectives whilst improving the lives of young people. They work with a range of organisations including Google, Coke, Playstation, BBC, NSPCC, the Home Office, O2 and Channel 4.

Audience-focused but multidisciplinary, they are equally at home creating internationally-syndicated interactive TV shows, sustainable online communities, local peer-to-peer print campaigns and competitions, niche and mainstream PR, high-profile events, charity retail partnerships, social media strategies and tailor-made qualitative youth insights.

Sharing open-plan offices in Brixton and Whitechapel with 12-21-year-olds from a broad range of backgrounds, they and their clients benefit from a uniquely deep understanding of what motivates, worries, interests and inspires young people in the UK today. In return the young people benefit from access to professional mentors, accredited training and equipment to produce their own print and digital media, pastoral care, training and financial support into employment, apprenticeships or back into education.

This model, evolved over eight years, has placed Livity at the forefront of the burgeoning Social Enterprise movement, seen their client base and team grow year-on-year, win multiple campaign effectiveness awards and, just as importantly, helped hundreds of young people achieve their full potential.

They are also behind the somewhereto campaign helping young people aged 16-25 access spaces for activities, and are constituted as a social enterprise.

Trail-Blazers

Trail-Blazers were the very first charity to ‘blaze a trail’ and provide a mentoring service to young offenders in prison and ‘through the gate’ into the community upon release.

Their aim is to reduce the risk of re-offending by working with individual young offenders on building self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem and to help achieve changes in thinking, attitude, and ultimately - behaviour.

They are currently established in three Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) and expect to expand into two further ones this year. Through a committed and dedicated team of almost 100 volunteers, Trail-Blazers works in close partnership with YOIs, prison staff and other stakeholders to prevent re-offending. Volunteers will work with young people up to six months prior to release to aid successful resettlement through intensive mentoring, support and signposting to specialist agencies. This support is then continued in the community by volunteers for up to nine months.

Of the young people Trail-Blazers worked with in 2010; 29 have been released and of those only four have re-offended, corresponding to 14% re-offending rate measured over a one year period compared to the national re-offending average of 74% over the same period of time.

RicNic Trust

RicNic was founded in its original form in 2004 to put on a musical during the summer holidays. Eight years later, RicNic has grown to become a completely unique organisation. They provide opportunities for young people to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through participation in theatre projects. In two vital ways, they are different from every other theatre group out there:

Every single participant, from the director, to the producer, to the cast, to the band, to the technicians, is aged 19 years or younger.
They do not charge our participants a penny to get involved.

This means that RicNic is not only an award-winning, sell-out theatre group, but also an important vehicle for young people to learn to take responsibility, build their leadership and teamwork skills, and meet others from a diverse range of backgrounds. This breaks down unnecessary social barriers and encourages young people to step out of their comfort zones and further themselves – without being told how to by lots of adults.

News: NCVYS brief - Autumn Statement

A briefing paper from the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)

On 29 November 2011, the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered his 2011
Autumn Statement to Parliament and NCVYS has now produced a policy briefing in response.

This briefing provides a summary for NCVYS members of key points from the statement, with particular focus on those that relate to young people and the voluntary and community youth
sector (VCYS). Click here to be taken to the paper.

News: National Council for Voluntary Youth Services turns 75!

Wednesday 2 November saw NCVYS marking its 75th birthday at its annual conference and AGM in London.

NCVYS shared its anniversary with a conference hall full of members and invited speakers. The conference theme, titled ‘A citizen society,’ prompted wide engagement across the attending members, with several thought provoking debates taking place.

Over the last 12 months the role of the citizen has prompted growing interest and a greater attention on those members of society who speak out for their rights and those of their communities. Alongside a renewed public focus, young people have been in the spotlight, clearly advocating for the kind of society they want. The conference explored how this involvement can be grown, developed, and harnessed, and how the sector should respond.

Guest speakers such as Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Children and Families, Stephen Greene, CEO Rockcorps, and a number of our own ENVOY members helped us to explore and debate issues such as building strong communities, empowering young people, developing a positive attitude to young people in society, the essential requirement to meet young people’s accessibility needs, and Tim Loughton MP’s reference to the vital importance of agencies to work together to ensure young people receive excellent services.

Other highlights included a panel discussion, chaired by Ravi Chandiramani, debating how to build a citizen society. Panellists included Melody Hossaini, contestant on The Apprentice 2011 and Founder of InspirEngage, Shaun Bailey, Managing Director and Co-Founder of My Generation and Big Society Ambassador, Ceri Davies, Diana Award winner and campaigner, and Sophie Stephens, Senior Organiser for Brent, London Citizens.

With one eye on the past year, panel discussions also briefly touched on the summer riots that hit a number of communities, with guest speaker Shaun Bailey drawing attention to the role of family in supporting young people to be active citizens, arguing that where families are incapable of this, the community needs to step in.

To see photographs from the event please click here. You can also read an article about Tim Loughton MP’s address to the conference on the Children and Young People Now’s website.

News: Youth organisations across the UK win youth participation award

Youth organisations across the UK win youth participation award

Voluntary and community youth organisations and projects who work with young people across England have won an award from the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) for their excellent work in youth participation.

Four organisations have won the 2011 Young Partners Award, supported and funded by Big Lottery. The award celebrates and recognises youth participation and what young people can achieve through working in equal partnership with adults.

This year’s ceremony, which was planned, organised and hosted by members of NCVYS’s national youth forum, ENVOY, brought together 12 shortlisted youth organisations across the country to celebrate the fantastic work they’ve achieved.

A record number of application forms were received for this year’s awards, and ENVOY members went through three shortlisting processes to determine the winner in each award category. The awards were divided into four categories (North, South, Midlands and National) and each category had three shortlisted organisations on the final shortlist with one being a winner in each section.

The prestigious ceremony was held on Saturday 15 October 2011 at Glazier’s Hall in London, with over 150 young people in attendance, including, young people from the organisations, young performers, photographers and filmmakers.

The winners selected were:

North – Truth About Youth

Truth About Youth aims to challenge and change negative stereotypes by promoting a positive image of young people in the media and society.

South – Aik Saath (Together As One)

Aik Saath means 'Together as One' in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. They are a group of young people dedicated to promoting conflict resolution and community cohesion through training and events for other young people.

Midlands – Autzine

Autzine is a magazine that is written by young people with Autism and ADHD. It gives them a voice when misunderstanding within society can sometimes take that away from them.

National – Raising Your Game (Mencap)

Raising your Game is an exciting, dynamic and young person lead project, making a real difference in young people’s lives and helping to reduce offending across the UK.

The winners received several prizes including a £500 grant from NCVYS towards developing their project, a year’s free NCVYS membership and prizes from sponsors of the event including a PGL activity day.

Sharna Parkes, North Team Leader for Raising Your Game (Mencap), said, 'We feel this is a great achievement for the staff and young people involved. It is great to be recognised for all our hard work and determination for the project to succeed. The young people who attended the awards were so excited and pleased to part of the event.'

News: New training partnerships announced

New training partnerships announced

Following an open tender process the Catalyst partnership has selected three voluntary sector-led training partnerships for investment in the growth and sustainability of their training enterprises.

NCVYS officers will be working with partnerships led by Clubs for Young People, Growing Up in the West Midlands (G:up) and the Oxfordshire Children and Voluntary Youth Services (OCVYS) from 2011-13 to deliver a package of financial and in-kind support designed to increase their business and put them on a more sustainable financial footing in the long term.

Gethyn Williams, Director of Workforce Development at NCVYS said “We were delighted to have had such a strong suite of applications for this initiative. Training is such a key area of income generation for the voluntary and community youth sector and one where we have unique strengths and approaches compared to other sectors.”

Diane Evans, Programme Manager at the NYA and workforce strand lead said “We will be working hard to ensure there is added value for the sector in everything we do to support those organisations selected. It is pleasing to be able to work with a good spread of partnerships operating at local, regional and national levels and we are confident the learning will benefit many more groups across England.”

Although three partnerships have been selected for intensive support, the selection panel identified a further four partnerships where in kind and consultancy support would really benefit the potential their applications showed. NCVYS officers are now working with these groups to develop a support offer. All groups that applied will be offered priority access to the learning and experience of the initiative in developing VCS-led training businesses, which NCVYS and the NYA will also make available to the wider sector in due course.

NOTES

An open tender process for this initiative was released in July 2011.
14 applications were received.
A two stage selection process assessed all applications for eligibility and potential to expand and become more sustainable.
A panel met to make final decisions on 7 October 2011. The panel included officers of NCVYS, the NYA and LSIS (Learning and Skills Improvement Service).
All applicants have been sent feedback on their applications with offers to discuss in more detail.
For further information on the initiative please contact Elena Carpenter or Gethyn Williams at NCVYS.
For further information on the Catalyst workforce strand please contact Diane Evans at NYA.

News: Consultation on Potential for an Institute for Youth Work Launched

Consultation on Potential for an Institute for Youth Work Launched

The National Youth Agency, as part of its work with the Catalyst consortium, has launched a consultation to assess the potential for an Institute for Youth Work.

The consultation, which will run from 26th September through to the 30th November 2011, aims to capture the youth sector’s desire for the development of an Institute for Youth Work and thoughts and views on how it would potentially operate.

The concept of an Institute for Youth Work has been debated for many years. Now, through its work with Catalyst – a consortium of four organisations coordinated by NCVYS, working with the Department for Education as the strategic partner for young people as part of the Department’s wider transition programme for the sector – the National Youth Agency is assessing the feasibility of taking the idea further.

The first phase of this work will be to identify whether the notion for an Institute for Youth Work is supported, in principle, by the sector and will focus on capturing viewpoints from all levels - students through to senior youth work practitioners.

Amanda Fearn, National Youth Agency development officer, comments:

“This is an opportunity for colleagues to consider the broad principles and values of a potential Institute that would be an independent body owned by its membership. This consultation will gauge the level of support for this and findings will steer future work.

“If the response to this is positive then the second phase of consultation will explore the complex detail behind all aspects of this from principles and mission through governance, functions, services and membership.”

To ensure the sector’s views are adequately represented through the consultation the National Youth Agency is providing a variety of feedback opportunities including an online survey, providing a face-to-face feedback event at the National Youth Agency’s offices in Leicester in November and making available materials to support organisations and individuals in capturing views of their own stakeholders.

The consultation can be accessed online or read more about our work with Catalyst.

News: NCVYS welcomes new members

NCVYS welcomes new members

Following our most recent trustee board meeting NCVYS has now welcomed 9 new members. Please follow the links to find out more about the great work they do.

The Cabin is a free, confidential and independent advice service for under 25's based in Stockton. They have advisors to give advice on any subject such as employment, relationships, consumer rights, welfare benefits and much more. They also have specialist advisors who deal with all aspects of housing, benefits, and money advice such as debt issues.

Free training is available to under 25's and those working with them in the areas of housing, debt, employment, consumer rights and benefits. There are also volunteers at the cabin who answer the phone and give advice. The Cabin trains young people to provide advice and support to others.

ASDAN Education is a charitable social enterprise with awarding body status, providing courses to more than 6,000 UK and international schools, colleges, youth centres and training providers. ASDAN's programmes and qualifications offer flexible ways to accredit skills for learning, skills for employment and skills for life.

National Voices is the coalition of health and social care charities working to strengthen the voice of patients. Their broad membership, rooted in people's experience, represents millions of people, and covers a diverse range of health conditions and communities. National Voices seeks to narrow the gap between the rhetoric about person-centred care and the reality. Their objectives reflect the concerns and issues of National Voices' members, the broader evidence on people's experiences, and the enduring challenges and deficiencies in the current systems of care.

IARS (Independent Academic Research Studies) is an independent social policy think-tank with a charitable mission to enable young people from all walks of life to have a better future and participate equally and democratically in civic life. IARS young people inform and influence policies and practices affecting them particularly in the areas of citizenship and civic engagement, criminal justice, human rights, equality, restorative justice and education.

Artswork is a national youth arts development agency and a registered charity based in Southampton. They are committed to transforming the lives of children and young people through arts and cultural practice. Artswork is supported by Arts Council England.

Artswork's mission is to place the arts at the heart of work with, for and by children and young people and to champion, lead and facilitate high quality work led by artists, arts and cultural organisations including the development of young arts practitioners/leaders.
They work through strategic alliances with the arts, cultural, education, youth and community sectors and aim to act as national champion to increase opportunities for children and young people to lead, participate, work in, experience and enjoy the arts.

The K9 Project is a complimentary education programme which uses the well recognised power of working with animals, in this case dogs, to develop a wide range of positive life skills. If you can become a leader of dogs you can definitely become a leader of humans too. They are based in Cambridgeshire.

Working individually or in small groups, their students learn how to communicate with dogs and how to get the best responses from them. Sessions will typically cover topics such as safety around animals, animal care/welfare, responsibility, self control and leadership skills. They also use specially designed learning games, DVDs, field trips and discussion forums combined with plenty of outdoor activity, primarily dog walking and training. They are an accredited AQA learning centre and have their own project awards scheme to give disadvantaged children and young people the opportunity to succeed.

Student Hubs works across the UK to transform student involvement in social action. They seek to act as a catalyst, empowering students to become active members of their community by promoting social action, social entrepreneurship and citizenship. They are based in Oxford.

They have a growing network of ‘Hubs' in universities that increase student involvement in social action and ensure these efforts are effective and sustainable. They also run the UK's leading student conferences on international development, social entrepreneurship, climate change and community volunteering.

The Anne Frank Trust UK draws on the power of Anne Frank's life and diary to challenge prejudice and reduce hatred, encouraging people to embrace positive attitudes, responsibility and respect for others.

Their Schools and Communities projects use the powerful messages drawn from the story of Anne Frank to help foster an understanding among today's teenagers of positive citizenship, human rights, democracy and respect for the individual.

Hidden Talents Partnership works with community, voluntary, public and the private sector groups to design and deliver creative community based programmes to support local people to realise and develop their vast yet untapped potentials. They are based in West Bromwich

The Hidden Talent Partnership regards the realisation and development of young people's vast hidden potentials as an essential part of socioeconomic growth and prosperity for the wider society. The Partnership works with local community and public sector agencies to introduce innovative programmes for young people and supporting them in achieving potentials.

News: Response to Positive for Youth

Response to Positive for Youth

NCVYS has published a response to the Department for Education's Positive for Youth discussion papers. The response was produced as part of the work of the Catalyst consortium. Catalyst is co-ordinated by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services with the National Youth Agency, the Social Enterprise UK and the Young Foundation. It is working with the Department for Education (DfE) as the strategic partner for young people, as part of the Department‟s wider transition programme for the sector.

In order to coordinate a full response to the Department for Education’s Positive for Youth discussion papers, NCVYS convened a working group of our members and partners. Our response owes much to those organisations. Different organisations took the lead in responding to the papers. Our response will reflect the views of these organisations and does not seek to suggest that all NCVYS members are in agreement with all the points being made. See the appended discussion paper responses below for organisation-led sections to this response.

There are common threads that run through the responses which reflect the vast knowledge of organisations working with young people and our core belief in young people and the value of youth work in addressing the challenges posed by this consultation. This response to the Government’s overarching narrative for the Youth Policy Statement aims to set out these threads. The responses to the other papers that follow ought to be read alongside the response to this overarching narrative paper, as many of the issues raised here cut across all areas of youth policy.

Read the response here.

News: Comprehensive cuts 3 report published

Comprehensive Cuts 3 report published

NCVYS has published a third Comprehensive Cuts report, Comprehensive Cuts 3: Where are we now for young people and the voluntary and community youth sector?. The report examines the latest information on the impact of public spending cuts on young people and the voluntary and community youth sector (VCYS).

The report details the results of public spending cuts on local authority-funded youth services and their impact on the health of the voluntary and community youth sector (VCYS). The report contains case studies of how spending cuts have affected our members and their ability to support young people. This includes organisations offering information, advice and guidance services, health services, housing services, youth justice services and volunteering opportunities.

It explores issues including the latest evidence on youth employment and the Work Programme, Education Maintenance Allowance and higher education and student finance. It also summarises some of the new funding opportunities for young people and the voluntary sector.

NCVYS remains extremely concerned that the voluntary and community youth sector, which provides vital services for young people, is facing serious challenges owing to the reduced investment in the sector. Our members need support to fulfil the needs of the young people in our communities; investment in these services delivering significant cost savings to other areas.

Alongside the report NCVYS has published a one-page summary of the three Comprehensive Cuts reports which picks out some of the key evidence detailing the financial situation of the voluntary and community youth sector (VCYS).

Read the report: Comprehensive Cuts 3: Where are we now for young people and the voluntary and community youth sector? (September 2011)

Read the report: Comprehensive Cuts summary: Key points from the reports (September 2011)

Read the previous Comprehensive Cuts reports.

News: NCVYS delivers step change for sector workforce

NCVYS delivers step change for sector workforce

The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) has been praised by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) for its role in delivering a major project to improve skills in the voluntary and community youth sector’s workforce.

The project known as Progress took place in 2010/2011 and delivered over 27,500 accredited training places to over 8,000 volunteers and paid staff in the voluntary and community youth sector in England. In partnership with CWDC, NCVYS established a training delivery and capacity-building structure with national, regional and local voluntary groups, to ensure the project was designed and delivered in an effective manner, appropriate to the needs of the sector.

The assessment produced by independent research firm Ecorys used interviews with over 500 project recipients. It found that the project had ‘resulted in positive impacts for individuals' ability to undertake their roles’.

The report assessed all aspects of the project - from its approach to partnership working through to the use of the subsidy to support accredited training that can lead to qualifications. Across the board the report concluded that the NCVYS-led partnership had played a positive role delivering the project.

Ensuring that the project had a clear long term impact was vital to sustaining the project’s benefits. The report concluded that 'a clear strategic legacy has been established in terms of enhanced capacity, an infrastructure to support future workforce development, new and enhanced partnerships and relationships, and key products and materials to support further improvements in service delivery. There are challenges to sustaining this legacy but a strong base has been established.’

Commenting on the report, NCVYS Director of Workforce Development said:

'Progress was a landmark project for NCVYS, our members and the wider sector. This independent report matches our experience of its delivery, and through our close partnership with CWDC, national and regional partners this report demonstrates that real difference Progress has made to voluntary and community youth sector organisations, be they the smallest community-based organisations or national groups with hundreds of members.'

For more information about Progress, please contact the NCVYS press office on 0207 843 6471 or email press@ncvys.org.uk

News: Statement over involvement of young people in riots of 6-9 August 2011

Statement on involvement of young people in riots 6-9 August 2011

Faiza Chaudary, Deputy Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), Nick Wilkie, Chief Executive of London Youth and Charlotte Hill, Chief Executive of UK Youth have made the following statement about the riots that have taken place in London and other towns and cities in England.

"Events of the last three nights are sad and alarming. The violence and looting we are seeing is criminal and disgraceful.

"The acts of violence are not one dimensional and there are many questions to be answered about their causes. Simply blaming these events on cuts to public services risks letting violent criminals off the hook and does not help the communities involved. Equally, we must take a strong look at issues around unemployment, poverty and engagement in communities to ensure solutions to these form part of the re-building process.

"Today, the priority is to bring calm to the streets. Youth clubs all over the country are staying open today, working hard with young people who are frightened and with young people who have a choice to make. Good youth workers have a critical role to play helping young people make the right choice tonight. We need to remember too that the vast majority of young people play an active and positive role in their communities.

"When order has been restored, all sections of society need to talk about how we support communities, including how we support young people, especially in times of economic chaos. We know community-based youth work has a critical role to play in this. We believe that strong communities involve young people and this must be part of a joined up and longer term solution."

Other organisations who have added their support to this statement include Brathay, Leap Confronting Conflict, Community Matter, Pro-Action and V.

For more information or press enquiries, please contact the NCVYS press office on press@ncvys.org.uk or 0207 843 6471.

News: Catalyst consortium publishes report into sector readiness for social finance

Catalyst consortium publishes report into sector readiness for social finance

A new report from the Young Foundation working as part of Catalyst, a consortium coordinated by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, argues that social finance could offer breathing space for the sector: greater freedom to innovate in their work with young people and focus on improving outcomes.

Read the report here>

The 11,000 organisations that comprise the voluntary and community youth sector (VCYS) are under unprecedented pressure. This report considers the potential for social finance to not only address under-capitalisation, but also to grow the capacity and entrepreneurialism of the sector.

Findings are based on a survey of nearly 100 leaders in youth sector charities and social enterprises, as well as in-depth telephone interviews with four leading social investors, and 14 youth sector organisations.

About one in ten of the youth sector organisations surveyed identified themselves as ready for social investment at present and 20 per cent of organisations expect to receive up to five per cent of their income from social finance in three years, which could total up to £5 million.

The report argues for the creation of a dedicated social finance retailer for the youth sector. The body will offer a range of financial and non-financial products. The report makes three priority recommendations to the sector, saying that VCYS organisations need to:

To tell a strong story about value: Inconsistent and weak evidence of impact hinders the sector from telling a potentially strong story about its added value, both in social and in real financial terms
To create new ways to collaborate: Responding to increased competition may require greater collaboration. Transitioning to new business models and telling a strong story about value requires a scale and capacity that many organisations be unable to reach acting alone.
To rethink their business models: The majority of VCYS organisations still rely upon grants and donations. Many require both financial and non-financial support, both to design and to transition to alternative business models.

The report also warns that social finance alone is not a substitute for public sector or voluntary funding - social investors will looks for sustainable business models, which are less reliant on grant funding. Many youth sector organisations will struggle with this transition.

Other findings include:

There is a reliance on grants and project-based funding which has led to a legacy of widespread under-capitalisation. The research suggests this has left youth sector charities unable to cover cash-flow, or invest in new opportunities and business development.
Sources of income are falling, and the way in which youth sector organisations receive their income is changing. Greater local flexibility in public sector commissioning is increasing competition for funds amongst youth sector organisations, and with other service sectors such as early years and family support.
Assessing the investment-readiness of the youth sector, the research found there were three common challenges relating to capability, capacity and confidence.

For more information, please contact the NCVYS press office on mail@ncvys.org.uk

News: Briefing papers on youth policy and youth services

Briefing papers on youth policy and youth services

NCVYS has published a briefing paper on the Department for Education's Positive for Youth discussion paper. In summer 2011 the Department for Education published a number of discussion papers on youth issues. In July it published an Overarching narrative for the youth policy statement. The narrative paper brings together the themes of the individual discussion papers.

This briefing paper summarises the overarching narrative, then sets out the key points of the discussion papers that relate to young people and the voluntary and community youth sector (VCYS). It includes details of the questions which the papers invite discussion on. It is intended to inform our members and help them to respond to the discussion papers.

Read the briefing here: NCVYS briefing paper on Positive for Youth discussion papers

Community Matters has published a briefing on the House of Commons Education Select Committee's inquiry into Services for Young People. The briefing is published on behalf of the Department for Education’s overarching strategic partnership, which NCVYS is a member of.

The inquiry into the provision of youth services for 13-25 year olds began in October 2010. It investigated the ways in which provision is currently delivered and accessed, the possible impact of public sector spending cuts on this provision, and explored the future needs of the sector in relation to Government priorities.

Read the briefing here: Community Matters briefing on Youth Services Inquiry

News: NCVYS launches Environment Charter for voluntary and community youth sector

NCVYS launches Environment Charter for voluntary and community youth sector

The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) has launched a guide to help organisations working with young people make more of the natural environment.

Working in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the wider NCVYS membership network, NCVYS has created an Environment Charter which helps voluntary and community organisations working with young people to bring the natural environment into their everyday activities.

The Environment Charter called ‘Good to be Green’ was created after research showed that NCVYS’s 280 members were interested in finding ways to involve environmental issues in their work with young people.

The charter brings together a host of resources including research findings on the value of the natural environment in promoting physical and mental health and wellbeing in the development of young people.

It also contains resources for voluntary and community youth organisations to plan and create their own environmental policy so that volunteers and paid staff have a clear idea of how to bring green practices into their everyday work – from cutting down on resources used in the workplace through to planning youth work sessions that take place outdoors.

In keeping with the recommendations of the charter, the guide is published in a digital only format and can be found at www.ncvys.org.uk/environmentcharter.html

Speaking about the launch of Good to be Green, Susanne Rauprich, NCVYS Chief Executive said:

‘Our charter is a great starting place for organisations who are thinking about how to make their work with young people greener. We know from the experience of our member network that young people thrive in organisations where the natural environment is integrated.

‘Whether it’s doing more youth work outside or thinking about how your organisation uses transport, Good to be Green offers a host of advice and tips on how to improve your environmental credentials’.

Dr Mike Clarke, Chief Executive of the RSPB added:

“Young people and nature go together like curry and rice. I am delighted that the RSPB and NCVYS are working together to produce this environmental charter. The link is great for the environment, great for young people and great for youth work.”

News: NCVYS celebrates 75th anniversary

NCVYS celebrates 75th anniversary

Seventy five years after founding the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), leading youth organisations reunited in London last night to celebrate the achievements of the organisation.

Representatives from the founding organisations including the Scout Association, Girlguiding UK, YMCA London, The Boys’ Brigade, Platform 51, The Girls’ Brigade, Clubs for Young People, GFS Platform and Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade attended a special dinner to mark the 75th anniversary of the first meeting of NCVYS on 26 May 1936, known then as the Standing Conference of Juvenile Organisation (SCJO). The founders heard from NCVYS Chief Executive Susanne Rauprich and Kanchan Jadeja, Chair of NCVYS’ board of Trustees on how the organisation has developed over the last seventy five years and how it plans to continue serving the voluntary and community youth sector in the years to come.

Since its inception, NCVYS has steadily grown its membership to a current total of over 280 organisations. With organisations including local networks like Voluntary Youth Services Devon to national charities working in different areas of youth provision like the Woodcraft Folk, Catch-22, KIDS, or faith groups like the Muslim Youth Helpline and the Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade, NCVYS remains the independent voice for the whole of the voluntary and community youth sector.
NCVYS continues to represent the voluntary and community sector in its work with Government. The organisation coordinates the Catalyst consortium which was recently appointed as the strategic partner for young people to the Department for Education. As part of Catalyst, NCVYS will broker opportunities for England’s young people to work with Government departments in shaping emerging youth policy.

Speaking about the 75th anniversary, NCVYS Chief Executive Susanne Rauprich said:

“Three quarters of a century ago, our founders recognised that organisations working with young people need a single voice to speak for them. Out of this came NCVYS and I’m delighted that we have reached this significant anniversary.

Far from retiring in our efforts, NCVYS is working harder than ever to represent the interests of voluntary and community youth organisations. Today, as then, youth organisations play a vital role in realising the full potential of young people and whilst much has changed since 1936, many of the things young people needed from us then are still very much needed today. Those needs are being met tirelessly through the dedication and hard work of thousands of organisations across the country and their work remains a constant inspiration to our daily endeavours."

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For more information about the event, please contact the NCVYS press office on 0207 843 6471 or email ross@ncvys.org.uk