Championing supportive and collaborative spaces for the sector

We are thrilled to announce the expansion of the YMCA George Williams College Impact Networks, welcoming Youth Scotland and Youth Cymru to our existing peer network across the UK.

With support from Paul Hamlyn Foundation  and the National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales, the Scottish and Welsh Impact networks will build upon our existing community of youth organisations and practitioners across the UK, fostering a collaborative space to expand upon and discuss youth practice expertise, growing shared evidence in the sector, and refining approaches to impact measurement and evaluating high-quality youth work.

First convened in 2014 across England as the Regional Impact Network, the College’s Impact Networks upholds a supportive space for practitioners in the UK to learn, examine, and discuss the latest developments in evidence, data, research, and youth work practice across the sector. Facilitated by the College, the Network also offers practitioners access to insights and resources from the College’s three centres of expertise, including free training and tailored insights from our measurement tools.

Tim Leaman, Head of Partnerships at YMCA George Williams College says:

“I am hugely excited to expand our networks and share our resources and training with colleagues in Scotland and Wales, and equally excited to learn from their experience and insights. I know that youth work is made so much more effective when resources are shared and colleagues come around the table to tackle the issues together. There is a great ecosystem of people determined to make life better for this generation of young people and we are delighted to add the full weight of the College behind them to ensure their impact statements have all the kudos and gravitas they deserve.”

Emma Chivers, Youth Cymru said:

“As the Youth Work Advisor for the National Academy for Educational Leadership (the Leadership Academy), working collaboratively with YMCA George Williams College, and Youth Cymru to co-ordinate the National Impact Network for Wales, is an exciting opportunity to develop the culture of impact measurement in Wales. This is an exciting time for Youth Work in Wales, as the sector implements the recommendations of the Interim Youth Work Board for Wales. This is a designated space for Youth Work leaders and practitioners to develop, and peer review a range of approaches to impact measurement, meeting a key policy priority, that focuses on increasing outcomes for Young People in Wales.”

Jo MacDonald, Head of Impact and Business Development at Youth Scotland said:

“Youth Scotland is delighted to be supported by YMCA George Williams College to host the inaugural meeting of the National Impact Network. This Network will provide a platform for community-based youth work practitioners across Scotland to get together, share learning and have a collective voice, as well as providing a central point for Network members to access practical resources and training opportunities. We have had a great response to signups for our first session and look forward to shaping how the Network looks going forward.”

Our Impact Networks are open for anyone in the sector seeking to access wider support and shared learning. Each Network is led by a dedicated organisation or Regional Youth Work Unit committed to meeting either in person or online in their region, at a minimum of four meetings per year.  

To find out more about of Impact Networks and get in touch with their relevant leads, you can do so here. You can also keep up to date with any upcoming meetings on our What’s on page and on our Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you would like to discuss the work of the Leadership Academy, please contact Emma Chivers (Youth Work Advisor) on emma@ec-consuotancy.co.uk or to find out more about the work of Youth Cymru, please contact Julia or Mel at  julia@youthcymru.org.uk/ mel@youthcymru.org.uk 

If you have any specific queries, please contact the College’s Head of Partnerships Tim Leaman (Tim.leaman@ymcageorgewilliams.uk.).