Links

YouthLink Scotland and Youth Work Training

YouthLink Scotland works on behalf of the sector with key organisations and groupings involved in the development, accreditation and delivery of youth work training in Scotland e.g. Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Community Education Validation and Endorsement Unit (CeVe), Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) Community Learning & Development Forum, Community Education Training Network and PAULO; the standards setting body for community-based learning & development

YouthLink Scotland has established links with the main training providers of youth work and uses feedback from the sector to influence the development of the training offered.

Key Contacts

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

The Scottish Qualifications Authority is Scotland's national body for qualifications. It develops and awards most of the qualifications on offer in Scotland's schools, colleges, workplaces and other training and education centres.  www.sqa.org.uk/ 
 

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
The central aims of the Scottish Credit Qualification Framework (SCQF) (www.scqf.org.uk) are to:

• Enable employers, learners and the public in general to understand the full range of Scottish qualifications, how they relate to each other, and how different types of qualifications can contribute to improving the skills of the workforce; and
• Help people of all ages and circumstance to access appropriate education and training over their lifetime to fulfil their personal, social and economic potential. The SCQF will make the relationship between qualifications clearer. It will clarify entry and exit points and routes for progression within and across education and training sectors. It will also maximise the opportunities for credit transfer.

Community Education Validation and Endorsement Unit (CeVe)
CeVe is the body responsible for setting and maintaining training standards in community education in Scotland. Each level of training has its own guidelines which describes exactly what training providers have to do in order to have their training endorsed. This unit is based in Communities Scotland.
www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_006467.hcsp#TopOfPage

PAULO
PAULO is the National Training Organisation (NTO) for community-based learning and development. It covers the occupational sector that includes Community-based Adult Learning, Community Education, Community Work, Youth Work and Parenting Education & Support.

Through it's members PAULO aims to become the most influential organisation working to improve the knowledge, skills and employability of paid and volunteer staff in the community-based learning and development sector.

PAULO's role is to advance, support and raise national occupational standards and training for all those engaged in promoting community-based learning and development. To access the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work go to www.paulo.org.uk.

Lifelong Learning UK
Lifelong Learning UK, the sector skills council (SSC) for lifelong learning representing more than one million workers in post-16 learning, started operating on 1st January 2005 following approval of its plans by the Sector Skills Development Agency.
www.lifelonglearninguk.org 

Community Education Training Network
The Community Education Training Network is an informal organisation set up some 9 years ago after the reorganisation of local authorities in Scotland to enable community education practitioners to keep in touch with national and local developments in their field. Its purpose is to exchange and share information and ideas about the development of training in the Community Learning and Development sector. It also provides a forum for comment on national consultations and policy developments within the sector and hosts conferences and events on related matters.

The Community Education Training Network has recently developed a Core Youth Work Training Programme for part-time, sessional and volunteer youth work staff. The materials were launched in June 2004. For more information on the materials and network contact: Mike Naulty, Community Education Training Network, Faculty of Education & Social Work; University of Dundee, Gardyne Road, Dundee.

Links to training providers

University of Dundee
www.dundee.ac.uk  

University of Edinburgh
www.ed.ac.uk  

University of Strathclyde
www.strath.ac.uk  

YMCA George Williams College, London
www.ymca.ac.uk 

University of Glasgow
www.gla.ac.uk  

Anniesland College, Glasgow
www.anniesland.ac.uk 

Fife College
www.fife.ac.uk  

Jewel & Esk Valley College, Edinburgh
www.jevc.ac.uk  

Falkirk College
www.falkirkcollege.ac.uk  

Ayr College
www.ayrcoll.ac.uk

Reid Kerr College
www.reidkerr.ac.uk

Telford College
www.ed-coll.ac.uk