The Quality Mark for Youth Work (the Quality Mark) is a national award available to youth work organisations across Wales. A unique tool for self-assessment, it supports and recognises improving standards in the provision, practice, and performance of organisations, demonstrating and celebrating the excellence of their work with young people.
The Education Workforce Council (EWC) administers the Quality Mark in partnership with Education Training Standards (ETS) Cymru, the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS), Principal Youth Officers Group (PYOG) Wales, and Training Agencies Group (TAG), on behalf of Welsh Government.
The Quality Mark consists of two distinct elements:
- a set of Quality Standards that youth work organisations can use as a tool for self-assessment and improvement
- an externally assessed Quality Mark that is a national award demonstrating an organisation's excellence
41 youth work organisations in Wales have achieved the Quality Mark. To register your interest for a quality mark external assessment, please complete an expression of interest form.
The Quality Mark is made up of three levels.
Bronze
The focus of this level is what your organisation does, how it is structured, how it is managed by the trustees, and how it does ‘good youth work’.
Blaenau Gwent Youth Service
Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales
Carmarthen Youth Project Dr Mz
Community House, Community Youth Project
Cwmbran Centre for Young People
Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team Wales
Flintshire Youth Service
Gwent Police Cadets
KPC Youth and Community
Mind in Gwent
Monmouthshire Youth Service
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS Cymru)
Powys County Council Youth Service
Promo Cymru
St John's Ambulance Cymru
Swansea Council Evolve Youth Service
Swansea MAD
Valleys Kids
Vibe Youth
Wales Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs
Welsh Centre for International Affairs
Welsh ICE
Urban circle
Silver
The focus of this award is on ensuring that youth work recognises and promotes equality and diversity, is planned to meet young people’s needs, makes an impact on their outcomes, is delivered by an appropriately qualified workforce and involves young people in decision-making.
Cardiff Youth Service
Merthyr Youth Service
Newport Youth Service
Princes Trust Cymru
RCT Engagement & Participation Service
Youth Cymru
YMCA Swansea
Gold
The focus on this award is on the use of management information and resources in demonstrating cost effectiveness, the quality of partnership working, and the celebration of young people’s achievements and progress.
Caerphilly Youth Service Youth4U
Carmarthenshire Youth Support Service
Conwy Youth Service
Duke of Edinburgh Wales
Neath Port Talbot Youth Service
Pembrokeshire Youth Service
Torfaen Youth Service
Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Vale of Glamorgan Youth Service
Wrexham Youth Service
YMCA Cardiff
Each level is made up of four standards which in turn, have a series of indicators. The indicators have their own measurable criteria or ‘grade descriptors’ which have been developed to help organisations understand how well they are doing against each of the indicators, and what would be needed to help them move forward.
For further information about each quality mark level, including the quality standards, indicators, and grade descriptors, visit our standards, resources, and guidance documents page.
Read the evaluation of the work of the Education Workforce Council on the Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales and its development in the youth sector.
Considering applying for the Quality Mark?
If you are interested in applying for the Quality Mark, there are a series of steps to follow.
- Contact the EWC to register your interest either via email, or by completing our expression of interest form.
- Complete our e-learning module designed to help build your knowledge of the Quality Mark, why it matters, and what’s involved in it. You may also want to consider some mentoring support if you feel this will help you (more information about what is available is below).
- Complete a self-assessment which includes evidence of all the good things you are doing (this is a written report to show how you feel you meet the quality standards).
- The EWC will check the report and once you are ready, will arrange an assessment team to conduct a quality mark visit.
- They will arrange for your group, or organisation, to participate in a series of meetings with assessors as part of a structured quality mark visit to see if the organisation has demonstrated that a ‘good practice’ grade has been achieved for each indicator within this level.
Once you have completed the five stages, a report is written to recommend to Welsh Government that they should award the Quality Mark. Your quality mark status remains valid for three years after which it must be renewed.
From a youth perspective: quality mark assessment process
This short video, produced by Swansea MAD, guides young people undertaking the Quality Mark through the assessment process.
Support available from the EWC
Support, information, and advice is readily available from the EWC throughout the entire process.
In order to help organisations apply and learn more about the Quality Mark, we have a range of resources available which include:
- training on how to complete the self-assessment report, and/or a mentor to support organisations
- opportunities to undertake an e-learning module which can be used to familiarise staff and volunteers with the Quality Mark
- peer support from previous applicants who are able to give handy hints and tips, plus support and advice
- meetings with assessors so that a working and supportive relationship can be established
- feedback on the self-assessment document and giving advice on content and structure
- a series of case studies and examples of good practice to learn from others across Wales