Creating more opportunities for young people across Wiltshire

A year after receiving investment from Wiltshire Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Partnership is helping create more opportunities for young people across the county by strengthening, connecting and championing the youth work organisations that support them.

Hosted by the Foundation and delivered in collaboration with local voluntary sector youth organisations and statutory partners, the Youth Partnership builds on partnership working that has developed across the county over several years. By bringing local organisations together, it aims to improve the quality, reach and sustainability of support available to young people. Investment from Wiltshire Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has enabled an increased focus on organisational capacity, training and skills development.

Organisations engaged with the Youth Partnership report collectively supporting more than 25,000 young people across Wiltshire and Swindon each year.

The Youth Partnership’s priorities are shaped by what local organisations say they need. Through surveys, Youth Work Network meetings and ongoing engagement, organisations have highlighted funding pressures alongside challenges around workforce development, recruiting volunteers and accessing appropriate training. This insight continues to shape the Partnership’s work and ensure support responds to the needs of the sector.

Over the past year, the Youth Partnership has begun turning those priorities into action. The Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Work Network has created new opportunities for organisations to connect, share learning and collaborate on shared challenges, while new county-wide mapping of youth provision is building a clearer picture of services across Wiltshire and Swindon to help inform future planning, investment and collaboration. The Youth Partnership is also helping champion and raise the profile of youth work, ensuring the contribution of local organisations is better understood and recognised.

Alongside this, a growing programme of support is helping organisations strengthen their skills, confidence and resilience. Learning and Development Grants are enabling staff and volunteers to access training and professional development, while accredited Level 2 and Level 3 youth work qualifications are now being delivered locally, making professional development and career progression more accessible across the county.

Recognising that people are at the heart of great youth work, the Youth Partnership is also investing in the next generation. A new Young Leaders programme will create opportunities for young people to develop confidence and leadership skills, while an Adult Volunteer Development programme will help organisations recruit, support and retain volunteers, strengthening the workforce that young people rely on every day.

Margaret Firth, our Director of Partnerships, said: “Youth work plays a vital role in helping young people build confidence, develop positive relationships and reach their potential. Across Wiltshire, organisations are doing incredible work, but many are facing increasing demand alongside ongoing challenges including funding, workforce development and recruiting volunteers.

“The Youth Partnership is about bringing organisations together to build on each other’s strengths. We’re incredibly proud of what has been achieved by the Youth Partnership over the last year, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside our partners to strengthen youth work across the county and create even more opportunities for young people across Wiltshire and Swindon.”

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “We are proud to work alongside and support the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Partnership, and it’s nice to take a step back and reflect on all the great work that has been carried out by the fantastic community and voluntary-led groups across the county, which is making a real, long-term difference to young people in Wiltshire.

“Looking to the future, we’ve had exciting conversations with the Youth Partnership about how we can, working together, build on this success and the strong foundations already in place, and we’ll be sharing more information about this very soon. We look forward to continuing our positive collaboration.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: "Investing in young people is one of the most important things we can do if we want safer communities in the future.

"Prevention of crime sits at the heart of my Police and Crime Plan. We know that early support, positive activities and trusted relationships can make a real difference to a young person's life.

"A positive engagement with young people builds confidence, resilience and aspirations. It helps them make positive choices. It can also reduce the risk of young people becoming involved in crime, anti-social behaviour, violence or exploitation.

"That is why I have invested in the Youth Partnership. This is not simply about supporting organisations. It is about making sure young people across Wiltshire and Swindon can access the help, opportunities and guidance they need to succeed.

"The organisations involved are already doing excellent work in our communities. This investment is helping them reach more young people, develop their workforce and build stronger services for the future.

"By supporting young people today, we are helping build stronger communities tomorrow."

Looking ahead, the Youth Partnership will continue to expand its programme of support, developing further training opportunities, strengthening volunteering, supporting young leaders and working with partners to attract future investment so that even more young people can benefit from high-quality youth provision across Wiltshire and Swindon.

Youth organisations can find out more about the Youth Partnership by clicking here or by contacting the Partnerships Team at info@wscf.org.uk.