Cumbria’s High Sheriff is encouraging people to think about a career in youth work by offering fully funded training and grants to support salary costs.
Better Tomorrows is a three-year programme which aims to increase the number of young people having access to support from youth workers to help them reach their full potential.
The unique initiative provides accredited training via Cumbria Youth Alliance and offers grants of up to £25,000 to community organisations setting up or providing new youth work opportunities for local people.
The Better Tomorrows Fund, administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, is now open for applications.
David Beeby, the High Sheriff, said: “Many young people have had their lives turned upside down by the pandemic and are facing unprecedented challenges caused by interrupted education, uncertainty about the future and anxiety exacerbated by increases in poverty and family ill health.
“High-quality youth work has a crucial role to play helping many young people to achieve their full potential. Through participation in youth work, young people gain confidence and competence, develop self-assurance, and have the opportunity to establish high expectations and aspirations for themselves.
“I am extremely grateful to all the organisations and individuals who have generously supported this programme. Together we can make a difference to the lives of more young people”
Better Tomorrows aims to invest £1 million over the next three years into quality youth work training and provision.
Funding has been secured from individuals, businesses and funders, including Cumbria Community Foundation, Francis C Scott Charitable Trust, Four Acre Trust, LLWR, Cumbria police and crime commissioner, BAE Systems, CCL Secure, Carr’s Group, CGP Publications, Iggesund, James Walker and Lloyd Motors.
“The programme has been designed to be scalable,” said David. “The more donations we receive, the more people we’ll be able to support, not just through accredited training, but also quality youth work provision.”
The training, Cumbria Youth Alliance, will lead to Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in youth work and around 150 people are expected to access the learning, which will be delivered through a mix of online and face-to-face sessions. Participants will be supported during and after their training as well as in their youth work settings.
Becky Wolstenholme, CEO at Cumbria Youth Alliance, said: ‘We are delighted to be leading the training element of the Better Tomorrows programme. We will be working in partnership with organisations and people throughout Cumbria to build upon and ensure a long-term quality Youth Work provision to young people.”
For more information, email Cath Corkill on [email protected]
To donate, visit: www.cumbriafoundation.org/better-tomorrows or email David on [email protected]
For more information on the Better Tomorrows Fund, visit: www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/better-tomorrows-fund
