Youth and Community Worker

Youth and community workers help young people to learn, grow and develop, and encourage them to play a positive role in the community.

Youth workers usually work with young people aged between 13 and 19 years (or in some cases, from 11 to 25 years). The job may involve tasks such as:

• organising enjoyable activities, such as sports, art or drama
• supporting young people to develop ideas and make changes in their lives
• organising outings and breaks to places like outward bound and activity centres
• supporting young people in organising their own activities and projects
• raising awareness about issues such as health and politics
• supporting young people in developing skills such as literacy and numeracy
• working with specific groups such as young people who are homeless.

Youth workers usually work in teams, and liaise with other professionals.

They usually work 35 to 37 hours a week, normally including evenings and weekends. The work environment may be a youth club, community centre, school, village hall, faith centre (such as a church or mosque) or Connexions centre.

Salaries may start at around £20,000 a year for professionally qualified youth and community workers, rising to £36,000 for senior staff.

A youth and community worker should:

• be able to develop and lead programmes of informal learning
• be able to relate to young people from a wide range of backgrounds
• have excellent communication and listening skills
• enjoy working with young people.

Youth and community workers are employed by local authorities, the Connexions service, youth offending teams, voluntary organisations, faith groups and schools.

Youth work skills are in demand, and opportunities are increasing.

Professional youth workers must have a qualification validated by the National Youth Agency and recognised by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Workers. From 2010 youth work will become a graduate profession and only honours degrees will lead to JNC recognition.

Youth Support Worker qualifications are also available. Students on these courses are generally employed and in youth work and study part-time. It is possible to train as a youth support worker via an Apprenticeship.

Newly-qualified youth and community workers train in the workplace with the support of experienced colleagues.

Qualified youth and community workers may move into managerial posts or specialist work such as working with young offenders.

Further details