Free youth work course opens for applications

Are you a volunteer in youth services, or looking to obtain formal youth work qualifications for work you are already doing?

Orkney Islands Council in conjunction with Youth Scotland have launched a rare opportunity for local people to gain a formal youth work qualification - for free.

The Professional Development Award in Youth Work is a nationally recognised, SQA accredited qualification at SCQF Level 6. It is open to anyone who works with young people in clubs or organisations in the County.

The course will be delivered here in Orkney by Youth Scotland trainers with support by the Council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) team.

Kerry Spence is team leader of the Council’s CLD service: “A qualification like this would normally cost in the region of £500. We’d like to thank the Orkney Children and Young People Partnership for their financial support towards this initiative, which helps ensure local people can access an important youth work qualification on behalf of the clubs, organisations and young people they support.”

Participants will be expected to attend six full-day sessions on:

• 7 and 8 September 2018
• 23 and 24 November 2018
• 25 and 26 January 2019

Participants will be also observed delivering youth work in their workplace or the group/club where they volunteer.

Applications close on Friday 22 June 2018. For further information or to request an application form, call 01856 873535 ext. 2425 or email Kerry Spence at the Council.