Targeted youth support: encouraging young people to take responsibility and become involved citizens

UK Youth brings together youth groups, associations, regional bodies and national youth organisations. We collaborate with other voluntary organisations and with government departments and offices. We support over 750,000 young people, 7000 youth groups, clubs and projects, and more than 40,000 volunteer and part-time youth workers throughout the UK.

We encourage young people to take responsibility and become involved citizens. We give a voice to people who are too rarely heard (many who presently don't get the support they need) and help them build skills that remain useful throughout their lives.

 One way we do this, for example, is by delivering programmes within the extended school offering. These include our Youth Achievement Awards, First Gear and On Two Wheels, Young Mothers' Learning, BTEC in Peer Mentoring and Peer Education.

Youth Achievement Awards

These awards accredit young people's learning and personal and social skills development through informal educational activities chosen by the young people themselves. 

The awards are accredited to national standards by ASDAN and help young people develop both key and basic skills. They are used as an alternative curriculum approach in a variety of settings and have been delivered, to date, by UK Youth in collaboration with 7KS in South Leys Business and Enterprise College and Frederick Gough School in North Lincolnshire.

First Gear and On Two Wheels

These comprehensive informal vehicle education programmes complement the curriculum and encourage young people aged 15+ to develop positive attitudes around the safe use of motor vehicles. They have been run in a number of schools in Coventry, delivered by local youth and community workers and volunteers. Students receive certification for these courses.

Click to read more good practice case studies related to the targeted youth support change process.