Pelton Youth ProjectYouth Work Curriculum

StatementSeptember 2017

Pelton Youth ProjectCurriculum Statement

The youth work curriculum statement is central to the delivery of high quality youth work that contributes to the personal and social development of young people. It supports youth work practitioners in the planning and organising of youth work activities, and encourages the team at Pelton Youth Project to focus on outcomes for young people.

The previous curriculum statement implemented by our youth workers was taken into consideration when designing the new curriculum. This statement is based on two key 2012 policy documents, namely, Positive for Youth, and a Framework of Outcomes for Young People.

Positive for Youth confirms that services for young people will focus on young people aged 13-19. This will be the age range of our senior clubs at Pelton Youth Project, with support for young people with Special Education Needs and/or Disabilities available up to the age of 25. Pelton Youth Project will also maintain a Juniors offer to support young people aged 8-12, who will then make the transition to our senior clubs.

The document identifies that some young people don’t get the support and opportunities they need through their families or communities; and therefore, “youth workers have an important role to play in supporting young people’s personal and social development – which includes developing important skills and qualities needed for life, and raising young people’s aspirations”.

Positive for Youth respects the right for young people to have their voice heard and that their needs and aspirations are the starting point for the planning and delivery of services. Involving young people effectively in the design, delivery and governance of youth work is essential to achieving the best possible outcomes for young people. Pelton Youth Project will strive to involve young people in the design of all youth work programmes, and will recognise their achievements.

The framework of outcomes offers youth workers the opportunity to focus on developing the social and emotional capabilities of young people. This is the ultimate goal of the youth work curriculum. Youth work of a high quality can contribute to young people developing the skills they require to manage the transition from adolescence to adulthood, and achieve their full potential.

Thomas JonesPelton Youth Project ManagerPelton Youth ProjectYouth Work CurriculumThe key focus of youth work is to enable young people to develop holistically, working with them to facilitate their personal, social and educational development, to enable them to develop their voice, influence and place in society, and to reach their full potential (The 2008 National Occupational Standards for Youth Work).

The youth work curriculum provides a structure for youth work practitioners to plan their work around the key issues affecting the young people they work with. It encompasses and promotes the youth work values and is built around five themes:

Youth work programmes are available to all young people at Pelton Youth Project. They are often designed by the lead worker of a given youth work session, who involve young people and colleagues in the planning process. Most programmes are delivered from Room 14 youth centre, although some programmes will take groups of young people offsite. A youth work programme is usually designed on a half termly basis, and

Health and WellbeingPersonal and Social

DevelopmentCitizenship

Creativity

Equality and Diversity

are often given a particular theme for that given half term i.e. film making or drugs awareness. All of the youth work programmes at Pelton Youth Project are responsive to the changing and ongoing needs of the young people accessing provision.

Youth workers encourage young people to consider the progress they make as a result of their involvement with Pelton Youth

Project through completing our recorded outcomes. These can be further enhanced through young people’s involvement in nationally recognised awards, predominantly the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Youth workers support young people to develop their knowledge and understanding of issues relating to their health. Young people are encouraged by their youth workers to make healthy choices, based on the information and support they receive. Youth workers will provide

young people with opportunities which are designed to improve their physical and mental health.

The Health and Wellbeing curriculum theme covers:

Outcomes for Young People:

Personal Safety Sex and RelationshipsEmotional WellbeingMental HealthPhysical ActivitiesDrugs and Alcohol AwarenessSmoking AwarenessOutdoor ActivitiesHealthy Eating

Health and Wellbeing

Able to talk about emotions Recognise a healthy lifestyle Motivated to take control of their health Can challenge bullying and oppressive behaviour Want to engage in physical activities

Want to make informed choices around their health

Know their rights in relation to their health

Know how to eat healthy Know the risks to health of

certain actions and decisions

Social and Emotional Capabilities:

Managing Feelings Confidence and Agency

Resilience and Determination

Youth workers provide young people with opportunities and experiences to understand themselves. This includes the opportunity to explore who they are, their attitudes and their values. Young people are encouraged to build positive working relationships with their youth workers, and respectful relationships with their friends and peers.

The Personal and Social Development theme covers:

Outcome for young people:

Personal and Social Development

Building a Positive Self-IdentityPeer EducationTraining OpportunitiesIndependent Living SkillsBeing Ready for EmploymentFinancial Management

Able to recognise their skills and those they need to develop Can communicate effectively Have a positive sense of who they are Have a good idea of where they want to go Understand their own beliefs and values Able to deal with change and difficult situations Know what behaviour is appropriate and inappropriate Have money management skills Can support their own needs and help others

Social and Emotional Capabilities:

Communication Planning and Problem Solving Resilience and Determination Relationships and Leadership

Youth workers believe strongly that young people should be supported to take an active role in the decision making at Pelton Youth Project. Engagement in the decision making process will support young people to understand democracy, and encourage them to become more actively involved in their wider communities. Youth workers provide opportunities for young people to develop their skills and become active citizens of the future.

The Citizenship theme covers:

Outcomes for Young People:

Understand how youth

work is planned and evaluated Understand politics and how

governments work Play an active role in

volunteering and making a difference

Understand how their actions impact on the community

Understand how decisions are made and how they can make their voice heard

Understand their community Have a belief that they can

influence decisions and achieve change

Social and Emotional Capabilities:

Communication Planning and Problem Solving Relationships and Leadership

Youth workers at Pelton Youth Project encourage young people to be creative, to take on new challenges, and grow through new experiences. The focus is on developing confidence and self-esteem. Pelton Youth Project has a tradition of film making, poster design and music. Young people are supported to try new things, work cooperatively, support friends and have fun. Whenever possible, young people are given the opportunity to express themselves through performances and displays of their creative work.

Citizenship

VolunteeringParticipation and Decision MakingCommunity ActionGlobal IssuesAnti-Social BehaviourFundraising EnvironmentRecyclingPolitical Education

The Creativity theme covers:

Outcomes for Young People:

Can express

themselves imaginatively Trying new ideas and new

experiences Being creative Developing confidence Developing creative skills Planning and organising

activities Build upon their interests Know what resources they

need for activities Produce great end results

Social and Emotional Capabilities:

Creativity Planning and Problem Solving Communication

Youth workers work with young people to develop their knowledge and understanding of issues relating to equal opportunities. Equal opportunities and anti-oppressive practice are a foundation of youth work. Our work is based on recognition that there is prejudice and inequality in society, which needs to be confronted and challenged. Issues covered include prejudice, discrimination, power and oppression. Our work also includes celebrating diversity, and wherever possible, bringing people from different backgrounds, ages and life experiences together.

The Equality and Diversity theme covers:

Creativity

Drama Music and DanceArts and CraftsFilm and PhotographyMedia and ICTCreative Writing CookingGardeningEnterprise

Equality and Diversity

Cultural AwarenessRace AwarenessDisability AwarenessSexualityGender EqualityAge AwarenessFaith and Spirituality

Outcomes for young people:

Can explore their personal beliefs and have respect for others

Understand inequality, discrimination and oppression Understand inequality at an individual, group, institutional

and societal level Know how their actions can affect others Able to be proud of their own identity Understand the diversity of society Recognise stereotypes and challenge oppressive attitudes

and behaviours

Social and Emotional Capabilities:

Communication Managing Feelings Resilience and Determination Relationships and leadership

Pelton Youth Project - Youth Work Curriculum Themes

Health & Wellbeing Personal & Social Development Citizenship Creativity Equality & Diversity

Personal Safety Building a Positive Self-Identity

Volunteering Drama Cultural Awareness

Sex and Relationships Peer Education Decision Making Music and Dance Race Awareness

Emotional Wellbeing Training Opportunity Community Action Art and Crafts Disability Awareness

Mental Health Independent Living Skills

Global Issues Film and Photography Sexuality

Physical Activities Ready for Employment Anti-Social Behaviour Media and ICT Gender Equality

Drugs and Alcohol Awareness

Financial Management Fundraising Creative Writing Age Awareness

Smoking Awareness Building a Positive Self-Identity

Environment Cooking Faith and Spirituality

Outdoor Activities Peer Education Recycling Gardening

Healthy Eating Political Education Enterprise

Social and Emotional CapabilitiesCommunication

Confidence and Agency

Managing Feelings

Planning and Problem Solving

Resilience and Determination

Creativity

Relationships and Leadership