In North Yorkshire the statutory youth service is provided by North Yorkshire County Council and is known as 4Youth. This service employs approximately 450 youth workers, many of whom work part time, to provide support and guidance to young people aged 13 to 19.
Youth workers use informal learning opportunities to help address issues faced by young people, by this we mean that a youth worker will use activities young people like doing (for example trips, music, leisure activities etc) as an opportunity to tackle issues faced by young people. This gives young people the opportunity to talk to an adult who can support them and if appropriate advocate for them. Therefore the work involves planning, running and reviewing all sorts of activities from informal youth club sessions, arts and leisure based activities, to trips and residentials.
The purpose of this is to:
"..work with young people to facilitate their personal, social and educational development, and enable them to gain a voice, influence and place in society in a period of their transitions from dependence to independence."
National Occupational Standards for Youth Work PAULO 2002
Below is the Career Framework for Youth Work, please select a position to view more information about the role.
