Tonight we had a different type of meeting on the VPOD! We met with assessors who are inspecting the Youth Service as they are in the process of applying for the Bronze Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales.
We discussed the role of the youth cabinet, the work we do in the local community and the impact we have by ensuring the voices of young people are listened to by decision-makers. We promoted our current area of work\; the youth satisfaction survey, and how we are in the process of piloting the survey in local youth provisions to find out what young people think of the Youth Service. We hope that this survey will be used as an annual evaluation tool to ensure the voices of young people are listened to. We also mentioned the accreditation we are working towards, an Agored Cymru Unit in 'Young People's Participation - Having a Voice' as well the support we all receive from our youth workers.
Good luck to the Youth Service in gaining the Bronze Quality Mark!
At tonight's meeting the District Commissioner Tir a Môr for Barry and Vale Scouts gave us a presentation about Scouting and the opportunities available to young people living in Barry and the Vale. We learnt more about the different groups available from Cubs to Explorers and the different activities young people can get involved in. We are looking forward to working with the District's Young Leaders and would like to wish them luck with their #YouShape mission! At the meeting we also finalised the youth satisfaction survey which we will be piloting in different youth clubs and provisions over the next couple of weeks. We also looked at the revised School Transport Code of Practice which will be coming out to schools soon! And we are looking forward to meeting officials from Atkin Associates ahead of the Vale Youth Service's Bronze Quality Mark inspection in March.
It's Youth Work Week in Wales and it's time to
celebrate the postive impact youth work has on our lives. We've been
asked "What's your youth work story?", so some of us just wanted
to let you know about our personal experiences of youth work and how it has
helped us ....
Emily:I've
been involved in youth work for 6 years and it has given me the opportunity to
represent my local area to local, national and international
decision-makers. I've had the chance to travel across Europe and
meet lots of new people and friends. I am now able to facilitate
workshops and training to young people and professionals on a variety of issues
and it has given me the passion to fight for young people's voices to be heard!
Erin: Youth
work has made me happy. I'm proud of myself and
my friends because we work together to make a change in young
people's lives locally. I can now create session plans and deliver
workshops and I know how important children's rights
are.
Daniel: Over the past couple of years I have been involved with many
projects that have been championed by Youth Workers; these include the Rights
Ambassador project, D of E, Vale Youth Forum and Cabinet, not forgetting VOG
Youth Mayor as well! All of these projects have been outstanding examples of
good practices by the dedicated and simply wonderful Youth Workers, who on a
daily basis have enriched not only my life, but the lives of many young people
right across the county. Youth Work has enabled me to do things that
before I would have never done; Youth Work has provided me with many
opportunities that I would have thought as impossible, Youth Work has equipped
me with the skills to succeed in life, and to top it all of Youth Work has
given me many new friends and memories. I could go on further about the
positive impact Youth Work has had on my life yet the list would be endless!
Ellis: Youth
work has increased my confidence so much that I can speak infront of people now
without vomiting! I have developed my public speaking skills and now
have the skills to be Vice Chair of the Vale Youth Forum, deliver assemblies
and as a Young Inspector inspect young people's services to award
them with the Children and young People's Participation Kitemark for
Wales.
Daley: I've
been involved with the youth service since September 2014 when I
joined Barry Youth Action and I've had so many
opportunities. I've joined the Vale Youth Forum and I'm now part of the
Vale of Glamorgan Youth Cabinet and going to Belgium in July to meet
Youth Councils from across Europe. I've been trained as a Young
Commissioner to help deliver a new Emotional Health & Wellbeing
service for young people locally and I've meet the Queen and Prince
Charles. I love being a Youth Councillor and attending meetings
because I am improving things for young people, we even have a joke
and the youth workers like Bethan ,Geraint, Conway and Ve are fantastic in
helping me! It's not too much either, just one meeting a month.
It's fun and I like a debate so positive all round. I now have the
opportunity to be Youth Mayor in October and I'm sure everyone would like to
take up that opportunity. I've developed loads of new skills and
it's very interesting because you find out information that nobody else would
know about yet. Youth work is a fantastic service!
Kyle: Youth
work has given me the confidence to meet new people, gain qualifications and
teach children, young people and professionals about the UNCRC. I've
started to help people whereas before I was doing nothing.
Emme: I've
attended youth clubs, I've been a Young Inspector, a member of the Vale Youth
Forum and the first Youth Cabinet and I did my 6th form work
experience with the Youth Service. I've had so many opportunities to
meet new people, try new things and my experience has been so rewarding.
I'm now about to go onto University and youth work has inspired me to
study politics.
Andy Borsden, Lead Officer for Youth and Community Learning at the Council came to our meeting to talk to us about the Youth Offer. Following a consultation with young people in the Vale last year, Andy wanted to know what we thought and asked us how more young people can be involved in ensuring the Vale Youth Service provides activities and projects young people want. This looks like it's going to be a big piece of work for the Youth Cabinet and we can't wait to speak to more young people about what they want to be included.
We also prepared for the exciting Youth Excellence Awards that we are attending in Llandudno this coming weekend because our School Transport Report has been shortlisted for an 'outstanding young person led project! During the meeting we also finalised our new logo, watch this space!
We would like to thank Billy & Jacob from Bro Radio's Youth Show for asking us to come on their show and also Cathie Steele for inviting us to the VIP tent at the Barry Scouts & Girl Guides Fete at Romilly Park on 2nd July. Looks like its going to be a busy summer! Also congrats to Tom & Dan for receiving their award for being elected onto the new Youth Cabinet at the end of April.
