Hundreds of students to take youth work qualifications after new government investment
Hundreds of students will be able to pursue careers as youth workers through a new £500,000 bursary fund, Minister for Civil Society Baroness Barran announced today (12 Sept).
- £500,000 will provide bursaries for 400 students to undertake youth work qualifications
- Minister for Civil Society opens applications for delivery partner to distribute new Youth Worker Bursary Fund
- Announcement comes as Minister hosts first of a series of events across the country to meet charity leaders and representatives of civil society
Hundreds of students will be able to pursue careers as youth workers through a new £500,000 bursary fund, Minister for Civil Society Baroness Barran announced today.
The fund will provide financial assistance to 400 people who otherwise could not afford to access the approved level 2 and level 3 qualifications in youth work.
The Youth Worker Bursary Fund aims to increase the number of people taking up the qualifications and ensure the sector attracts new youth workers from a variety of backgrounds.
Charities, benevolent and philanthropic organisations from across England are now able to bid to become the delivery partner of the Youth Worker Bursary Fund.
The announcement coincides with the first in a series of events across the country hosted by the Minister for Civil Society, to meet a wide variety of sector stakeholders and discuss the Civil Society Strategy.
In the coming weeks the Minister will meet individuals and organisations in Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham, Bradford, Norwich and Birmingham.
Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran said:
The UK’s civil society is the glue that holds our communities together. Having volunteered and worked in the sector for over 30 years, I know the power our charities, social enterprises and community groups have to change lives for the better.
Today and over the next few weeks I will be meeting representatives of this brilliant sector across the country to ensure the positive work of the Civil Society Strategy continues.
I look forward to listening to a wide variety of people and organisations, from national bodies to smaller grassroots charities, to ensure their voices are heard.
The Civil Society Strategy, published in August 2018, set out a bold vision for the sector. It included plans to create stronger communities, proposing significant reforms across the public and private sectors to build a fairer society.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they can deliver impact across multiple regions, and that bursaries will be provided to individuals who would otherwise not be able to afford to undertake the qualification.
The application form and guidance for applicants can be found here:
Youth Worker Bursary Fund application form
Youth Worker Bursary Fund application form and guidance for applicants (2019-2020)
Details
Applications open: Thursday 12 September 2019
Applications close: Midnight on Sunday 6 October 2019
About the fund:
The purpose of the Youth Worker Bursary Fund is to provide financial assistance to those undertaking approved qualifications in Youth Work, by providing bursaries to those individuals. The fund was announced by the Minister for Civil Society on 12th September 2019.
Eligibility:
- the fund is open to charitable, benevolent and philanthropic organisations from across England
- applications should be for £580,000
- applicants should be able to demonstrate that they can deliver impact across multiple regions in England;
- bursaries must be allocated to students undertaking either of the following approved qualifications: Level 2 Certificate in Youth Work Practice; Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice
- applicants should be able to demonstrate how they will ensure that bursaries will be provided to individuals who would otherwise experience financial difficulties in accessing Youth Worker qualifications (e.g. bursaries should not be provided to individuals whose workplace would ordinarily pay for their Youth Worker qualifications)
- the value of the grant requested must not represent more than 50% of the applicant’s or consortia’s collective annual income
- all funds must be claimed by the applicant and committed to students by 31 March 2020
- applicants must include a copy of their safeguarding policy, along with a statement that confirms the applicant has effective and appropriate safeguarding procedures that protect employees, beneficiaries or volunteers from harm, and that explains how any concerns and incidents are managed
Application details:
- the deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 6th October 2019
- applicants should answer all questions on the application form
- applications received before the closing date will be assessed after the closing date
- applications received after the closing date will not be assessed
- available information and guidance relating to this round of funding is contained in the documents above
- we are not able to respond to requests for support in completing this application as this is a competitive process
Email your completed application to: Katie Harman
Successful applicants will be informed in November 2019. We expect the grant agreement will be finalised with the successful applicant by the end of November 2019. Exact timing may vary.
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