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The Welsh Government has published a new statutory framework for youth work, which comprises the Youth Support Services (Provision of Youth Work) (Wales) Directions 2026 and Youth work in Wales: delivering for young people statutory guidance.
The framework establishes clear planning and accountability arrangements, as well as setting out requirements for local authorities to assess and prioritise young people’s needs and set objectives to support and develop youth work. Collaboration – between organisations designing and delivering youth work, as well as young people themselves – is central to the framework.
Announcing the framework, Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education, said in a written statement:
‘Young people have a critical role to play in the realisation of this framework. The framework makes clear that their views must shape the youth work strategic plans that each local authority, working with its partners, will be required to develop … This framework, alongside our work to develop a national body for youth work, will help champion youth work, ensuring that it is valued and understood and that it continues to respond to young people’s ever-evolving needs.’
Play Wales says:
‘We welcome the publication of this statutory guidance. In particular, we would like to highlight the links being made between the youth work strategic plans and the Play Sufficiency Assessments. We also strongly welcome the recognition of the alignment between playwork and youth work which states that: “When aligned, these two sectors can enhance each other’s impact and improve experiences and outcomes. It can also lead to the development of longer-term trusted relationships with individuals as they transition between childhood, adolescence and young adulthood.”’