The Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work is funding a series of free national, collaborative 'Policy and Practice' seminars around the UK. The aim of these seminars is to foster greater levels of collaboration between higher education institutions and practice agencies in the profiling of challenges and opportunities facing youth and community work policy and practice across the UK.

This Seminar Title:
'Youth and Community Work in Transition'

Hosted by the University of Worcester, and co-designed with the University of Gloucestershire, this event will include representation from practice agencies including: Worcester Community Trust, Ourside Youth Association, Youth Focus West Midlands, Kidderminster and District Youth Trust, and Aspire Academy; in discussion with academic colleagues.

This Seminar Brief:

The purpose of this seminar day is to progress a conversation about ‘youth and community work in transition’. Significant changes in the economic and social environment have resulted in the re-evaluation of roles and relationships within the profession, with young people and across communities. Within this context, state funded youth work is having to redefine its place alongside an expanded role for voluntary and community sector agencies. This places new demands on practitioners, organisations, local authorities, and training agencies in the face of unchartered territory. This change can be perceived as a threat to established practices and/or an opportunity to reimagine youth and community work as it migrates to new territories and establishes fresh claims. This seminar will initiate a conversation using the three horizons framework to explore and profile how practitioners and agencies are managing the transition. Our intention is the conversation will result in innovative policies and practices being articulated for the region and provide the basis for future collaboration.

The full programme for the day can be dowloaded via this link

Who should participate?

We invite participation from practitioners, academics, researchers, agencies, policy-makers and activists from across the region who share a concern for the wellbeing of young people and communities. The seminar will include opportunities for participation and networking with a view to extending partnerships between academia and practice agencies.

How do I book?

Click on the green 'register' button to reserve your free space (which will include refreshments; and catering where a seminar includes a typical meal-time). Please select the booking category that best fits your status and you will be emailed a confirmation 'ticket'. Further updates and information will follow as the event draws nearer with final joining details and a full programme emailed a week in advance of the seminar date.

What other seminars are taking place?

This seminar is one of ten free 'Policy and Practice' seminars taking place around the UK - each with a unique theme and approach - and you can view the full list of events via this link.

*The Professional Association is grateful to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for a grant that allows us to offer these seminars as free events to all participants. More information on the grant making activities of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Youth Fund are available on their website via this link.