Memorandum 105

 

Submission from The National Youth Agency (NYA)

 

1. The NYA feel strongly that the removal of funding for students studying for equivalent or lower level qualifications disproportionately disadvantages youth work and youth workers already disadvantaged in the youth workforce education, training and qualification arena.

2. HEFCE are proposing that the same areas that are exempt from Student Support Regulations and Student Fee Regulations will also be exempt from withdrawal of ELQ funding. This includes nursing, midwifery, social work and teacher training - but not youth work. Youth work is identified by DCSF as a vital and pivotal professional area within the youth workforce and seen as a key component of the 14-19 agenda and learning offer. This strengthens arguments for youth work to be recognised as equal to and sit alongside other learning and care professions. The removal of ELQ funding will exacerbate the difficulties and inequalities experienced by Higher Education Institutions providing professionally validated Youth and Community Work programmes in relation to wider HEFCE funding and support arrangements compared to those available for programmes supporting other professions within the youth workforce.

3. A significant number of youth and community work students that are recruited each year are in some way supported by employers and are consolidating years of practical experience in the workplace, seeking to gain their professional qualifications in order to progress in their chosen career. Professionally validated youth and community work programmes are required to demonstrate continuous and dynamic partnerships with employers and individuals, and do so very successfully. In this regard, employer support is vital to sustain the quality and viability of programmes, and the removal of ELQ funding, alongside other inequalities of funding adversely affecting the sector, has the potential to detrimentally affect this relationship dramatically.

4. Traditionally youth work attracts a high proportion of mature students and those returning to learning. Many seeking professional level qualifications in youth work through Higher Education have contributed to delivering quality education and development services to young people in a part time capacity for a number of years whilst also working in other jobs and professional areas. This includes those working in youth ministry settings, where the student may hold a degree in theology, and those that are seeking a change in career direction. 54.8% of students entering Higher Education programmes in 2006 were over the age of 25 with 63.6% of those being over 30.

5. In 2005/2006, 86% students enrolled onto undergraduate programmes. Of these 9.35% did so with existing degree qualifications in another subject. This is a rise from 7.4% identified in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, and current enquiries from prospective students support this upward trend. Further, that with the development of the integrated qualifications framework for the Children, Young People and families workforce in England, proposing greater and enhanced lateral mobility for the workforce across professional boundaries, this is expected to rise further.

6. In terms of the widening participation agenda, with HE seeking to make the best possible contribution to businesses, public and not-for-profit sector organisations, and communities, professionally validated youth and community work programmes have successfully and consistently recruited people from groups which have historically been under-represented. Records for the last 6 years show between 59.4% and 64.4% female intake across all programmes: at undergraduate level data for 2006 shows 57% female (with 32% being over the age of 25) and at postgraduate level 62% female (with 56% being over the age of 25). Records for the last four years show between 10 and 14% of new students each year with a declared disability. For the last two years 30% of new students are of non - white ethnic origin. In addition, in 2006 47% of all students enrolled onto professionally validated programmes were studying part time.

7. In conclusion, The NYA strongly opposes the removal of ELQ funding for professionally validated Youth and Community work programmes and requests that such programmes be given exemption in the same way as social work and teacher training. Equally, that wider HEFCE funding and support arrangements are reviewed so that those available to professionally validated youth and community programmes are equal to those available to social work and teacher training.

 

 

 

 

 

Denise Challinor

The National Youth Agency