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7. Training
The national qualification for community learning and development, currently known as the Community Education degree, provides the main initial qualification for professional youth workers. A consortium of training providers is currently working to improve work-based routes to this professional qualification.
The skills expected from those engaged in youth work at all levels are set out in the national occupational standards for youth work, which have been agreed by Lifelong Learning UK, and will soon be reviewed. Training
for part-time workers, some of which is endorsed by Community Education Validation and Endorsement (CeVe), is sometimes available on a local basis but this is not universal. There is currently no requirement for youth workers to undertake initial or on-going training. Many youth workers work part-time, some only a few hours a week. Many services rely on the work and commitment of volunteers. In the voluntary sector, some of the national organisations provide, validate and certify their own sector-specific training.
Q31: What skills, qualities and support does a 21st century youth worker need?
Q32: Do volunteers need the same skills and support?
Q33: How do we attract and retain more people as youth workers on a full- or part-time basis?
We need to make sure that everyone working in the field has access to the training they need to do their job well and to support young people to achieve their full potential. This training needs to keep up to date with the demands and skills expected of youth workers today, recognising the challenges of their role, for example the need to make appropriate decisions about risk. We also need to make sure that effective work-based training routes such as Modern Apprenticeships are developed. Opportunities for ongoing training must be available to help workers meet the changing challenges they face.
Q34: Are there specific types of training that are difficult to access and that workers or volunteers need to do their job more effectively?
Q35: Is there enough information about the training available?
Work is currently ongoing to set up a body to strengthen standards of practice in community learning and development. This could play an important role in improving quality in youth work. One of the issues being looked at is the possible registration of people working in the field, including volunteers. It would be important to make sure that any measures put in place to raise standards are appropriate and work effectively for all those involved
in youth work - including part-time staff and volunteers.
Q36: How do we make sure that any measures put in place to strengthen standards, including registration, are suitable and work effectively for volunteers?
Case Study: Safe Momentum Safe Driving Project, Shetland 
Simply by offering young people enjoyable things to do, youth work can help to keep them safe and out of harm or trouble. Some projects even have safety as their focus, helping young people understand how to avoid situations where they might be in danger or unsafe.
The Momentum project in Shetland aims to develop positive and responsible attitudes to driving. It was developed as part of the Youth Service's youth work programme to help tackle the high number of road accident deaths and serious injuries among young people.
The main parts of the project cover:
- attitudes to driving and rights and responsibilities;
- the basics of car care; and
- the basics of good driving with up to two hours of driving lessons for each young person.
This year forty young people will complete the course, including a group with additional support needs. They are encouraged to put this towards a Youth Achievement Award Portfolio. The programme also fits well with ASDAN accredited awards. It is a good example of inter-agency co-operation, with local police, driving instructors, a further education college and schools all involved in delivery in both school and youth club settings.
Comments from young people involved included:
"I have learned about the dangers of drink driving … that speeding causes accidents … about the law and how to maintain the car."
"I enjoyed everything … except waiting about for my turn learning to drive!"
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