Get Connected celebrates Youth Work Week

by Former Member

Monday 2nd November 2015

Get Connected Youth Advisory Panel

Throughout the week, Get Connected is celebrating Youth Work Week – an initiative developed by the National Youth Agency to make sure that the great work done by young people and the organisations who work with and for them is recognised.

Jessica Taplin, CEO at Get Connected, says: “We place young people at the very heart of our organisation and ensure that as well as providing vital help and support for young people in crisis, we involve young people in our decision making and give them the chance to shape and influence the way our service develops. We believe this makes us a more effective organisation and means we can deliver a service that is relevant and useful for young people all over the UK.”

Devan Witter, a member of the Get Connected’s Youth Advisory Panel, says: “It is really important for young people to be given an opportunity to have their say on services they are involved in. Not only is it important, but it is our right to be involved and have a say in what affects us as young people. Get Connected is a great example of this as they have recognised the importance of young people having a say and being involved in decision making. The

Youth Advisory Panel is a great way to help the charity stay relevant, representative and responsive to the needs of young people.”

Youth work supports young people to have a voice and it helps young people develop the confidence to express their opinions and recognise that they have a valuable contribution to make to key decisions.

Paul Miller, interim chief executive of the National Youth Agency, says: “Times are tough in the youth sector with more cuts to local services and nationally little recognition for youth work and its impact on young people… Youth Work Week is a time when people from every part of the sector can come together to celebrate and promote what youth workers do and the transformative contribution they are making to young people’s lives.”

Find out more about Youth Work Week on the National Youth Agency website.

This post was originally part of the Get Connected website. YouthNet and Get Connected merged to form The Mix in 2016.