Dudley Youth Service builds positive relationships with young people aged 11 to 19 (up to 25 for young people with a disability) to help develop their personal and social skills.
At the heart of our service is the voluntary involvement of young people whether they attend a group we run or are supported via our early help case work.
Youth Service provision is via two clearly identified key areas of work – Universal and Targeted.
- Universal youth work focuses delivery on identified national and local needs. Young people’s involvement in decision making is encouraged and supported.
- Universal provision is delivered by the local voluntary sector and faith organisations.
If you are interested in how to start a voluntary youth club our Youth Service can offer advice and support, please contact the main office on 01384 815174.
- The Source Youth Centre, Wordsley, Brierley Hill - 01384 813967
- Meadow Rd Youth Centre, Castle and Priory, Dudley Central - 01384 818240
These provide a central network point for other clubs and youth projects enabling young people to access a wide scope of leisure and informal education activities.
Programmes at our Youth Centres include holiday provision, information advice and guidance on a number of issues such as sexual health and substance misuse, opportunities to take part in sports and other activities.
All the above is offered within a safe and welcoming environment.
If you would like to enquire about booking a youth centre please contact the main office on 01384 815174.
Dudley Youth Service aims to offer young people a range of accredited training opportunities to support them to be actively involved in decision-making and service development.
- Next Generation - is an OCN Level 1 accredited course offered to 16-19 year olds who are interested in finding out more about youth work.
- Recruitment and Selection - this training is offered to 13-19 year olds who would like to be actively involved in the recruitment and selection of staff both full and part time who are required to work with children and young people.
- Youth leadership training - is for any young person aged 11-19 who would like to become more actively involved in their local communities and develop their skills and understanding of leadership as well as local decision-making.
Trained youth workers aim to engage with young people on the streets and in public spaces such as parks.
Locations and projects often focus around areas identified as experiencing anti social behaviour, child sexual exploitation issues and young people are encouraged to participate in a range of positive activities.
We work alongside a range of partners including the Police and Park Rangers.
Accreditations
- A DofE programme is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, you just need to be aged between 14 and 24. Within Dudley there are a variety of groups running the programme - open, school based or attached to a uniformed group i.e. scouts.
- There are three levels of Duke of Edinburgh's award - Bronze, Silver or Gold. You achieve your Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if you're going for Gold!) - Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition and for Gold, a Residential too. You'll find yourself helping people or the community, getting fitter and developing life skills.
- Your programme can be full of activities and projects that get you buzzing, and along the way you’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Your school or college may have a DofE group you could join. If not or they are full, then there are voluntary groups. To find out about these or if you require any further information, please contact Michael Fantham on 01384 813937 or at michael.fantham@dudley.gov.uk.
- ASDAN Short courses are designed to give flexible access to certificate a wide range of activities that can take place in schools, colleges, youth centres, informal education, referral units and training provisions.
- There are no age restrictions for the Short Course Awards, although the main focus is on the 13-19 age groups.
- The Short Course Awards are straightforward to achieve and there is minimal paperwork.
- Participants work from an Awards record book, which contains a choice of challenges.
- In general, challenges are completed over 30 hours or 60 hours, which corresponds to three or six credits (10 hours = one credit).
- A Portfolio of Evidence is collated containing evidence of planning and reviewing, a summary of key skill development, a record of progress and pieces of evidence for each challenge.
- After internal moderation the award supervisor submits a list of successful candidates’ names to ASDAN, who then issue certificates to the centre.
- The Bronze Award is a preparatory level award that provides an introduction and stepping stone to achieving the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE).
The Castle Award is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities, designed to support the development of young people aged 12 – 14 and 25 years plus. The Castle Award is based upon The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and all subject matter and learning outcomes are exactly the same.
To find out more about the CASTLE Award please contact Michael Fantham on 01384 813937 or at michael.fantham@dudley.gov.uk.
Youth Voice
We work with and support young people to get their views across to people in power. This involves providing development opportunities to enable young people to actively participate in policy and decision-making and service development.
The work we do involves different initiatives from local to national level providing young people with a range of opportunities to develop their skills and understanding of democracy and decision making processes.
We support and promote environments where young people can make their views known about issues they feel are important as well as develop their confidence and skills along the way.
This youth council was set up in 1997 and is funded and supported by the Youth Service. DYC is a group of young people aged 11-19 (and up to 25 for those with a disability) who work to improve things for all young people in the borough.
DYC provides the Council and other organisations with the opportunity to work with young people on borough wide policies as well as offering the young people a forum to discuss issues which affect them and other young people.
Young people are elected to this group across the borough on a yearly basis in February.
- UKYP allows young people to work alongside MP's and Councillors. It has been a great success.
- Every other year a vote is held to elect 2 Members of Youth Parliament who then go on to represent all young people in Dudley at the West Midlands Youth Parliament.
- In 2017, over 6,400 young people voted from across the borough for their representatives.
If you are interested in getting involved with DYC or UKYP please contact Aaron Richards on 01384 815153 or aaron.richards@dudley.gov.uk.
The Children in Care Council in Dudley is called Make a Difference and supports young people in care to have a say on issues that matter to them.
The group members are all looked after children / young people aged 11-18 who meet every two weeks to discuss topics they feel are important, and to provide an opportunity to get their views heard by adult decision makers.
We do lots of different things which include:
- Writing and sending newsletters, updates and questionnaires to young people
- Representing young people’s views on issues that affect their lives
- Organising events for young people in care so they can have their say
- Designing a website for looked after young people
- Working with other organisations to make sure looked after young people’s voices are heard
- Regular activities to celebrate our work
- Attending events in the West Midlands and elsewhere in the country too
- Having FUN!!
If you are looked after or a care leaver and are interested in getting involved, please contact Darren Foley (Participation Officer - Children Looked After/Care Leavers) 01384 815172 or darren.foley@dudley.gov.uk
The Care Leavers Forum is open to people aged 16+ who are leaving care in Dudley and provides them with the chance to have a say in the way services are provided. The project is committed to enabling care leavers to participate in decision making processes in order to inform and improve services for all care leavers.
If you are looked after or a care leaver and are interested in getting involved, please contact Darren Foley (Participation Officer - Children Looked After/Care Leavers) 01384 815172 or darren.foley@dudley.gov.uk.
