Careers in youth work
Why work with young people?
A career in youth work means no two days are the same.
It can be fun, energising and creative, while supporting young people to:
- unlock their potential
- increase their education
- develop friendships
- learn to deal with the challenges that life throws at them
How to become a youth worker
Before training to become a Youth Worker, it’s useful to first do some volunteering with a local youth organisation.
You will need to:
- have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which shows if you have a criminal record
- complete safeguarding training, this a term used for keeping children and young people safe
It’s also possible to do an Introduction to Youth Work training course through Young Opportunities Solihull.
How to become a qualified youth worker
To become qualified, youth workers will have a Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) qualification. You can achieve this through higher education or an apprenticeship.
Higher education
- Study of an undergraduate or postgraduate programme with a JNC attached to it
- A mixture of classroom teaching and placements
- Yearly university prices apply
Apprenticeship
- Level 3 Youth Support Worker and Level 6 Youth Worker JNC recognised qualification is available for free through the NYA
- Level 3 takes 18 months and Level 6 takes 3 years
- You must be employed in a youth-facing role for at least 30 hours a week
You can find an apprenticeship with the National Youth Agency.