Online conference, 2nd-5th November 2020 from 1pm-3pm each day

Youth work in all its forms can have a transformational impact on young people’s lives. After a decade of policy neglect and underfunding, the beginning of the 2020s was set to see a strong focus on youth work policy, skills and qualifications not seen for many years. 

The pandemic has further highlighted the importance of youth work provision in supporting the needs of young people as we emerge from the crisis.

A government review of statutory guidance this year is due to clarify what services local authorities must provide, while a review of youth work qualifications will set out new routes to the profession and skills for youth workers in the future.

Moreover, the government is pledging significant investment in support and facilities for young people over the course of the next parliament through various funding streams.

Taking place over four consecutive days, you are invited to join a series of two-hour, live sessions between 1pm and 3pm, Monday 2nd to Thursday 5th November.  

Youth Work in the 2020s will provide essential learning and insight for everyone who has an interest in the immediate and long-term future of youth work. The online conference - organised by Children & Young People Now, alongside our event partner National Youth Agency - will feature a series of CPD-certified keynote talks and practice seminars to support you in providing high quality, effective services and support to all young people.

We have also included a time slot each day for you to engage with (and learn from) a range of exhibitors who would like to talk about how their products or services can improve your practice. 

Who should attend:
  • Professional qualified youth workers
  • Youth support workers
  • Skilled youth work volunteers
  • Managers, directors and practitioners across children and young people’s services
  • Commissioners of services
  • Early help teams
  • Policy makers and officers
  • Early support co-ordinators
  • Youth justice practitioners
  • Provider of youth advice and guidance
  • Public health professionals
  • Quality and performance managers
  • Heads of strategy
  • Heads of evaluation and evidence
  • The academic community

How to register and attend?

You can register for the online conference using the button below. 

The fee to attend this online event is just £99.00 +VAT (£118.80) per person* for access to:

  • All of the live sessions across the four days
  • Live Q&A with the presenters
  • Opportunities to network with exhibitors and view their products and services
  • On-demand access to all sessions for up to three months after the live conference date

Your joining instructions will be sent in an email from Big Marker, the online platform we are using, so please allow emails from Big Marker and check your spam if you haven't received this yet. 

* Click here to view the booking terms and conditions

Online Conference Agenda

For additional descriptions of each session click here

Day 1: 2nd November 1pm-3pm

Time Session
1.00pm Keynote 1
Ten-year vision for youth work
Leigh Middleton, Chief Executive Officer, National Youth Agency
1.35pm The youth work workforce
Paul Fenton, National Officer, TAG: The Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work 
Abbee McLatchie, Director for Youth Work, National Youth Agency
Chris Murray, Chief Executive, Young Brent Foundation
2.05pm Virtual exhibition and networking break
2.25pm Participation and #YouthVoice
Antonia Dixey, Chief Executive, Participation People, and #YouthVoice Pioneers 

3.00pm

 Close of Day 1

 

Day 2: 3rd November 1pm-3pm

Time Session
1.00pm

Keynote 2
Rethinking the role of youth work and evaluation during the pandemic
Bethia McNeil, Chief Executive, Centre for Youth Impact; & Gill Millar, Chair of NYA's Education Training Standards Committee
1.35pm Virtual exhibition and networking break
1.55pm The Future of Universal Youth Work
Kathryn Morley, Chief Executive, OnSide Youth Zones
Helen Taylor, Network Director, OnSide
Abubakar Buwe, OnSide Youth Zones
Karen Edwards OBE, Chief Executive at Bolton Lads & Girls Club
Alistair Dale, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Moves
2.30pm Youth work case study – CYP Now Youth Work Award Winner
Getaway Girls
Flavia Docherty, Director, Getaway Girls; & Kianna Leader, Vocal Girls Coordinator, Getaway Girls

3.00pm

 Close of Day 2

  ..

Day 3: 4th November 1pm-3pm

Time Session
1.00pm Reimagining schools: the role for youth work and youth services
Caroline Sharp, Research Director, NFER
Tony Gallagher, Chair of the National Advisory Board for Youth Services
Jonathan Hopkins, Director for Policy and Strategy, National Youth Association
1.35pm Virtual exhibition and networking break
1.55pm Contextual safeguarding and youth work settings
Paula Skidmore, Senior Research Fellow, University of Bedfordshire
2.30pm Embedding youth work in health settings
Johanna Fitzsimmons, Programme Manager, Redthread: Birmingham; presenting alongside frontline workers from across Redthread’s services; & Sean Monaghan, Team Leader, Redthread

3.00pm

 Close of Day 3

   

Day 4: 5th November 1pm-3pm

Time Session
1.00pm

Panel Discussion
Opportunity guarantee: employment and training
Seyi Obakin, CEO, Centrepoint
Laura-Jane Rawlings, Founder & CEO, Youth Employment UK 
Sam Windett, Director of Policy, Impetus 
1.50pm Virtual exhibition and networking break
2.10pm

Panel Discussion
Investing in your local youth offer
Baroness Diana Barran MBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 
Jo Rich, Head of Youth Voice, The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF)+ Young people from the NLCF Youth Forum 
3.00pm

Close of Day 4

Contact information

Please click the following link for delegate and exhibitor enquires - Contact us