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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Synergy
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Youth Focus North West (YFNW) has secured £1.5 million in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the UK’s largest community funder, to launch Synergy, a bold new initiative supporting children and young people across the North West. Made possible by National Lottery players, the five year investment will strengthen youth voice, participation, and sector collaboration.
What is Synergy?
Synergy is a five year commitment to strengthening our three focus areas: youth voice, training, and networks across the North West.
Through Synergy, we are working alongside young people, youth workers, organisations and partners to:
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Provide training and support for the youth workforce
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Create safe, inclusive spaces where young people can express their views
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Enable young people to shape services and influence decisions that affect their lives
This work is made possible through The UK Fund one of the first major commitments under The National Lottery Community Fund’s new strategy, It Starts with Community. The fund supports projects that bring people together and strengthen community connections.
Lundy Model of Participation
Synergy builds on our work in Greater Manchester to strengthen youth voice across the UK. At its heart is the internationally recognised Lundy Model of Participation, a framework that moves organisations from simply listening to young people towards genuine collaboration, ensuring their voices shape the services and decisions that affect them.
Over the next five years, we are offering free Lundy Model Training those working with or on behalf of children and young people. This includes colleagues in education, youth work, local authorities, voluntary sector and community organisations.
All training is endorsed by Professor Laura Lundy, author of the Lundy model, and designed to help you embed meaningful participation in practice.
What will the next five years look like?
We are building a bold, youth-led future, and here is how we will get there:
1. Foundation: Laying the groundwork through deep dives and further evaluation in Greater Manchester, building relationships in Cheshire and Merseyside.
2. Embedding: Rolling out training, evaluation frameworks, and youth voice activities across our regional partnerships.
3. Expansion: Extending our reach into Lancashire, supporting new collaborations and youth-led initiatives.
4. Consolidation: Strengthening networks, amplifying impact, and influencing national conversations around youth engagement.
5. Sustainability: Hosting national seminars, planning for long-term legacy, and championing UK wide adoption of.
Outcomes
By the end of this five-year funding, we aim to create lasting, youth led change across the North West and the rest of the UK:
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Embedding participation: Workforces in Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire will embed the Lundy Model of Participation into policy, practice, systems and processes.
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Leadership with youth voice: Youth voice and the principles of the Lundy Model will be visible and valued within leadership at all levels.
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From engagement to influence: Young people will grow in skills and confidence, moving from participation to influence.
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Systemic impact: Youth voice activities will shape systems, policies and leadership across Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire.
We’re partnering with nations across the UK to ensure long term impact. In year one, our nation partner is Children in Wales. In year two, we’ll be joined by the Scottish Youth Parliament and Start360 in Northern Ireland.
The Partners
Nation Partners
Evaluation & Learning Partner
Regional Partners
