The Proud Trust is an LGBT+ youth charity empowering young people to be proud of who they are. The Proud Trust delivers youth work and one-to-one support across Greater Manchester. The charity also runs a national training and inclusion programme for schools, Proud Connections Live Chat, and manages Manchester’s LGBT+ Centre: The Proud Place.
Three youth workers from the Trust began the Level 6 degree-apprenticeship in September 2023 at The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Fully Funded Course Places
Liam Swanston, Youth Work Manager says that The Proud Trust would not have been able to finance the training without the levy funding released by NatWest.
“The Levy provides security for employers, knowing that for the next couple of years there’s funding available for workforce development. This longevity is encouraging especially for smaller organisations, to enable them to plan and take achievable steps to be ready to apply.” he explained.
Liam Swanston, Youth Work Manager from the Proud Trust in Manchester
Diversifying the Workforce
The apprenticeship Levy has also attracted new people looking for career development, Liam explained: “It’s helped us recruit one of our current learners who started doing youth work years ago and wanted to enrol on the course but couldn’t with their previous employer. It has power locally in terms of movement around the sector. Because we could support them through the process, it cemented their decision to move organisation.”
For specialist youth work organisations like The Proud Trust, it can be challenging to find staff who have specific lived experience and particular understanding, as well as JNC recognised qualifications.
“The funded apprenticeships are boosting the diversity of the workforce, providing better representation of the young people we work with,” said Liam.
Community of Practice
The course encourages critical thinking and allows apprentices to share knowledge: “It’s fostering a culture of shared learning and igniting reflective practice that is so fundamental to youth work. Our staff on the apprenticeship are now talking about the benefits of youth work in a much more evidence-based way.”
After taking part in the degree-apprenticeship, one of Liam’s employees developed the Proud Young Adults programme. The service provides a space for LGBT+ people aged 18-25 to socialise, learn new skills and access support as they transition into the wider community.
The youth work degree-apprenticeship is pioneering a gear shift in terms of making training more accessible whilst still achieving the same quality degree level graduate.
“It’s different to teaching or social work – we don’t work with young people in the same way, and that’s the wonder of youth work. The learners are coming back into the organisation and inspiring others to dive into the essence of what youth work is, which is the benefit of learning alongside working.”
The peer-to-peer informal learning through conversations, critiquing and sharing lived experience encourages a community of practice that is driving sector change.
“The network of active professionals is a massive benefit – you’ve got 40 people doing apprenticeships that are all working live in youth work, that’s 40 connections your learner automatically makes.”
Or email our Apprenticeship Officer harryr@nya.org.uk
