Youth Work Week is an annual event created to celebrate the achievements of young people and promote the benefits and impact of the work of the Youth Service across Wales. The week began on Friday 23rd June with the Welsh Government’s Wales Youth Work in Wales Excellence Awards. The Blaenau Gwent Youth Service’s Inspire 2 Achieve project was shortlisted to the final 3 for a Youth Work in Wales Excellence Award and was delighted to win the category.
During the week, the Blaenau Gwent Youth Service is organising additional events to promote the week.
These include:
Regional Youth Work conference
Tues 27th, 6-9pm, Llancaiach Fawr, Caerphilly
The Regional Youth Work Conference has been organised between the 5 LA Youth Services: Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Newport, Monmouthshire and Torfaen. We have held the conference annually for the past three years, and it is used as an opportunity to bring youth workers from across the region together. At the conference youth workers share good practise, identify areas for cross boundary working and identify training needs that can be addressed across the region. Young people also get the opportunity to present some of their work. This means that while each Youth Service is different, young people can expect the same quality of provision and access similar types of support no matter where they go in the region.
Blaenau Gwent Youth Service Awards evening
Thurs 29th, 6.30-9pm, Llanhilleth Institute, Abertillery
The Thursday BG Youth Service Awards evening is an event to celebrate the achievements of young people who attend the Youth Service throughout the year. The event has been sponsored by Circuit of Wales and Aspire Blaenau Gwent. Young people from every project will win an award with then three young people achieving Youth Service Learner of the Year, Youth Service Volunteer of the Year and Youth Service Outstanding Young Person of the Year. There is also an award for Youth Worker of the Year.
Youth Clubs
Blaenau Gwent Youth Service have three Youth Clubs which run during term time offering young people a chance to make friends and participate in a range of fun events and activities. Youth Clubs are in Abertillery, Brynteg & Cwm.
Abertillery – Wednesday & Thursday 6-8pm
Ebbw Vale – Monday & Wednesday 6-8pm
Cwm – Monday & Wednesday 6-8pm
Girls Only Youth Club – Tuesday 6-7pm, Abertillery
Positive Futures
Youth workers operate in a range of settings providing group and one to one support to young people. This is to assist with their personal development and thus reducing anti-social behaviour.
School groups – Monday and Wednesday
Evening groups – Tuesday and Wednesday 5-7pm, Cwm youth centre
Inspire 2 Achieve
Is an 11-16 ESF funded project with youth workers supporting young people aged 11-16 in Blaenau Gwent’s Secondary Schools to improve attendance, attainment, behaviour and health and wellbeing. Young people create individual action plans to reach their potential.
Activities include 1:1 support sessions, structured group activities and open access clubs/groups.
I2A Youth Worker in every school and Canolfan yr Afon
Gardening Project – all schools and PRU (Canolfan yr Afon)
Inspire 2 Work
5 x I2W Youth Workers supporting young people to enter employment, education or training
Inspire Changes Project, launching Friday 30th – Abertillery Youth Centre
Detached Street Work
Thursday and Friday 4.30-8pm
Detached Youth Workers allows to meet and engage with young people on their own territory where they ‘hang out’ in Blaenau Gwent outside of school hours. This could be on the streets, in café’s and parks or at rail and bus stations.
Free Football Fridays
Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre 6-7.30pm
Jo Sims, Youth Service Manager for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Said:
“The Youth Service is providing a fun filled week of activities in addition to its regular calendar and celebrates the excellent work of the Youth Service, recognising the achievements of all young people throughout the year. Young people are often portrayed in a negative light and this is an opportunity to celebrate the excellent and positive things they have done for themselves and their community.”
For further details about these events, please contact Joanne Sims on 01495 357866 / 07772 755435 or email Joanne.Sims@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk.