Youth matters
Rochdale Youth Service’s purpose is to “support young
people in their transition from childhood to responsible adulthood,
encourage their social development and individual fulfilment, and
help and encourage them to engage more actively in
society”.
Education and empowerment
Youth work offers educational programmes and projects in which
young people choose to be involved. Personal and social development
through learning – about themselves, others and the world around
them – can be achieved by youth work providing experiences with
clear learning outcomes.
Youth work, therefore, needs to provide programmes and
activities that:
- Connect with young people's interests, as they engage
voluntarily with the Service
- Complement the formal education system by creating an informal
environment for learning
- Engage with current social issues such as health or crime
- Support young people through the transitions of adolescence
into adulthood
- Cover a wide range of methods and opportunities, including art,
drama, literacy, sport, information, outdoor pursuits, citizenship,
residential experiences, volunteering, accredited learning
- Are structured within a curriculum framework that makes sense
to both staff and young people
Target groups
The target age range for the Youth Service is 13-19. It is
acknowledged, however, that a small proportion of resources will
also need to work with 11-13 year olds who are in particular need
of support as this age band are in the transitional phase from
Children’s Services.