Organisation: Carmarthenshire Youth Support Service
Title: Junior Leadership
Contact: Heulwen O’Callaghan
Aim of the project. The aim of our project was to provide opportunities for young people to gain a recognised ‘introduction to youth work’ qualification in the language of their choice.
Young people were consulted with, and identified the need for, an accreditation that acknowledged their volunteering and community engagement with Welsh language groups. Young people’s feedback shaped the delivery style and method of sessions leading to changes being made to some of the course content.
Young people provided feedback and created a video to encourage others to undertake the course, and outline the benefits to them.
Consultation with young people accessing the project ensured that we were able to tailor the project to best suit their preferred learning styles. Providing an opportunity for the young people to engage with their peers and a trusted adult in a safe space, either face to face, or online, enabled them to express themselves, and connect and socialise with others they usually wouldn’t have.
During lockdown, sessions were held virtually. Whilst this was successful, some of the more practical sessions would have benefitted from face-to-face work. The project currently runs using a blended approach, although consultation with young people on each course determines delivery style and type.
The project ‘Arweinyddiaeth Iau’ has created opportunities for young people to be able to engage with their peers in a safe space, in the language of their choice, with trusted adults. Partnerships have been developed within the local community, and within the voluntary and third sector to actively promote the Welsh language through supported youth work interventions. Young people have become more active and visible within their local communities, and are more aware of their rights and responsibilities. They are also actively engaging with other young people in the language of their choice, promoting and educating others about the positive impact and opportunities that youth work provides.
There has been a significant increase in partnership working and improved relationships with active Welsh language groups within Carmarthenshire. This has provided a greater focus on youth work and young people’s voices within local networks across Carmarthenshire, particularly in the voluntary and third sector.
The programme is delivered to voluntary sector partners focussing on accessing youth work via the Welsh language. Young people actively engage and volunteer in their local community, promoting the Welsh language, and access to youth work, whilst empowering other young people to participate in a wide variety of youth work interventions.
The project continues and partnership opportunities have increased in relation to the Welsh language youth work offer for young people.
The following links to social media gives a flavour of the project. In December 2022, we were awarded a Youth Work in Wales Excellence Award.
https://www.facebook.com/CarmsYSS/videos/487071895693827