Ceredigion Youth Service has achieved the prestigious Gold Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales. The Gold Quality Mark of Youth Work in Wales has only been achieved by two other Local Authority Youth Services to date.
In 2017, Ceredigion Youth Service was awarded the Bronze Award. At the beginning of 2019, the Service progressed in achieving the Silver Quality Mark. Soon after, the Service was assessed again and awarded the Gold Award.
Lead Assessor and Director of Atkin Associates, Louise Atkin, said how she was “particularly impressed with the way in which the Youth Service has grown and developed since achieving the Bronze Award in 2017.”
The final report identified that Ceredigion Youth Service offered a high quality youth work offer covering 16 core areas including; Recognising Young People’s Achievement and Progress, Management Information and Partnership and Resources.
The report also highlighted that the ‘determination and creativity of the Ceredigion Youth Service team puts young people at the centre of what is a vibrant and creative youth service, valued by young people who are supported and challenged to be positive and move forward in their lives.’
The report noted that there is ‘very good leadership and management within the service and that partnerships are a particular strength, with assessors experiencing the largest support across Wales from partner services and organisations during their visit meetings. The assessors felt that there is a strong culture of celebrating young people’s achievements in all aspects of the service.’
Ceredigion County Council’s Corporate Lead Officer for Lifelong Learning and Culture, Elen James said, “To have been awarded the Bronze, Silver and Gold Quality Marks for Youth Work in Wales is a tremendous achievement for the Service. It’s great recognition for the commitment and hard work of the team in supporting and providing opportunities for young people across the county, well done to all of the team. This award shows that Ceredigion Youth Service continues to deliver an outstanding service to young people every year.”
The Welsh Government launched the Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales in October 2015 to provide a robust, independent, external assessment of the quality and performance of organisations that deliver Youth Work in Wales.
On 28 June 2019, both the Silver and Gold Quality Mark Awards will be presented to Ceredigion Youth Service by Kirsty Williams, Minster for Education at the National Youth Excellence Awards.
