Principles of the network
Principles of the network
Our approach to collaboration and alliances with other organisations – June 2020
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The Network of Regional Youth Work Units: England brings together independent organisations working to support the youth sector at regional level in the English regions. At present our members cover 6 of the 9 regions and we aim to recruit relevant organisations to join the network and support youth work in the other 3 regions over the next 1-2 years.
Regional Youth Work Units act as hubs for developing and supporting youth work in their regions, working with commissioners, providers and young people themselves to ensure the sector is well-informed, skilled and responsive to changes in government policies and young people’s needs.
The Network regularly works with organisations with a national (and sometimes international) footprint and role in supporting aspects of the work of the youth sector, in order to inform policy developments, engage parts of the youth sector who may otherwise not be able to access national initiatives and knowledge, and provide regional intelligence to national organisations while informing organisations in the region of national developments that could affect their practice and environment. This role is recognised and valued by national organisations and government bodies, and has resulted in positive outcomes for youth work, youth workers and young people.
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Our approach to collaboration and alliances with other organisations – June 2020
​
The Network of Regional Youth Work Units: England brings together independent organisations working to support the youth sector at regional level in the English regions. At present our members cover 6 of the 9 regions and we aim to recruit relevant organisations to join the network and support youth work in the other 3 regions over the next 1-2 years.
Regional Youth Work Units act as hubs for developing and supporting youth work in their regions, working with commissioners, providers and young people themselves to ensure the sector is well-informed, skilled and responsive to changes in government policies and young people’s needs.
The Network regularly works with organisations with a national (and sometimes international) footprint and role in supporting aspects of the work of the youth sector, in order to inform policy developments, engage parts of the youth sector who may otherwise not be able to access national initiatives and knowledge, and provide regional intelligence to national organisations while informing organisations in the region of national developments that could affect their practice and environment. This role is recognised and valued by national organisations and government bodies, and has resulted in positive outcomes for youth work, youth workers and young people.
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About the Centre
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The Centre for Youth Voice is a national hub dedicated to strengthening how young people influence decisions, shape services, and create change across the UK. It provides resources, evidence, and networks that support meaningful, high-quality youth voice practice – ensuring that young people’s ideas lead to action.
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The Centre was originally established at YMCA George Williams College, building on the College’s expertise in socio-emotional skill development and its work on the Framework of Outcomes for Young People. In 2023–24, following a period of consultation and development, the Centre moved to its new home with the Regional Youth Work Units (RYWUs), ensuring that it is rooted in regional networks and directly connected to the realities of youth work across the country.
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The Centre’s development was shaped by wide consultation. The Project Discovery Consultation (2023) engaged 64 young people and practitioners, highlighting the need for:
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Accessible and practical resources to strengthen youth participation.
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Easier access to youth-led and longitudinal research on the impact of participation.
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Inclusive storytelling that reflects both successes and challenges.
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Fairer and more visible opportunities for young people to connect, influence, and lead.
These findings led to a co-created action plan, which includes:
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A Capacity Hub of free resources, toolkits, and training.
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A Youth Voice Observatory – a national digital repository of research and evidence.
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More youth-friendly communications and networking platforms.
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A network of Regional Youth Voice Ambassadors to champion participation across the UK.
The Centre also builds on important foundations in the sector. The Framework of Outcomes for Young People (3.0, 2023) reinforced the central role of socio-emotional skills in youth work, while A Typology of Youth Voice for UK Youth Provision (2022) provided a shared language to describe and evaluate different forms of youth voice – from youth boards and surveys to trustee roles, Q&A sessions, and creative approaches such as film, art, and performance.
Today, hosted by the RYWUs, the Centre continues to grow as the UK’s hub for youth voice, influence, and impact. Its work is shaped around three guiding principles:
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Insight – building and sharing evidence through the Youth Voice Observatory.
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Involve – supporting practitioners and organisations to embed meaningful participation.
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Impact – ensuring young people’s voices lead to real change in services, policy, and communities.
The Centre’s history reflects its collaborative foundations: it began with research and frameworks at YMCA George Williams College and is now rooted in the regional youth work infrastructure through the RYWUs. This combination of national coordination and local connection ensures the Centre is well placed to support young people, practitioners, funders, and policymakers in making youth voice central to practice and decision-making.