If you’re already working in the sector or an allied profession and would like to improve your knowledge of a particular topic or learn new skills, we have a range of free short courses and webinars.
Subjects include safeguarding, participation and digital skills.
Last year more than over 6,000 people took one of our CPD courses, helping to boost their confidence, skills and employability.
Welcome to our Continuing Professional Development catalogue, below you will find all of the CPD courses we currently have for you to enrol on.
Note* The CPD courses in this catalogue refer to British Legislation and the National Occupational Standards and English Youth Work Policy, if you are accessing our training courses from outside England you will need to apply the legislation and occupational standards that pertain to the country you work in.
Our CPD courses are delivered through the NYA Academy Online Learning Platform. You can access this system using the same login details as your Youth Work One account. If you do not currently have an Youth Work One account, please click below to create one for free.
 CPD courses that are accessible regardless of your existing youth work understanding. An essential starting point, courses are designed to equip individuals with the fundamental knowledge in a specific subject or field of youth work. Typically aimed at beginners or individuals with little or no prior experience in the subject matter and are usually shorter in duration. The goal is to provide a solid foundation upon which learners build and advance in their understanding and practice. |  CPD courses that go into more depth than beginner level courses. Learners would benefit from a basic understanding of youth work. Courses build upon the fundamental knowledge acquired in a basic course. They are designed for learners who have a solid understanding of youth work and/or the subject matter’s fundamentals and are now ready to explore more complex concepts and approaches. These courses are designed to challenge and engage learners while providing the necessary tools and resources for continued advancement in their learning and practice. |  CPD courses that require an existing knowledge of youth work to properly complete. These are specialised and more rigorous courses developed for learners who have already achieved a good level of proficiency in particular subject and the field of youth work. Courses are designed to stretch the learner, offering in-depth knowledge, the development of advanced practice and expertise in specialist areas of youth work. Courses are usually longer in length and provide a wider range of learning approaches to sufficiently cover more complex concepts and context. |
Below is a bank of our current free CPD offering. Simply click on each course to find out more and get your Youth Work One account registered.
Learn about Intellectual Property (IP), copyright and how you may use our course materials here.
Digital Badges now available for select CPD courses
Displaying a Digital Badge on your Linkedin profile is a great way to track your CPD and showcase your skills to colleagues and prospective employers.
You can currently claim a Digital Badge following completion of these courses: An introduction to Risk Assessment for the Youth Sector, Media Literacy and Digital Youth Work, Safeguarding in a Youth Work Setting (including the NOCN Endorsed Programme) and Supporting young Gypsies, Roma and Travellers.
More courses will be added to the Digital Badge programme throughout the year.
Get started now
| Image | Title | Summary | Tags | Link | hf:doc_categories | hf:doc_tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | First Aid Training for Youth Workers | First Aid training is a vital part of youth work practice. While not legally required, the NYA’s Practice and Safeguarding Standards strongly recommend that those working with young people undertake first aid … | CPD, Health, Health and Wellbeing, qualifications, Skills Development, Youth work offer, Youth worker | cpd-courses safe-people safeguarding-hub | cpd health health-and-wellbeing qualifications skills-development youth-work-offer youth-worker | |
 | Youth Work Insight: Disability, Neurodiversity and Transformative Practice in Youth Work | This four part webinar series brings together sector specialists, youth workers, academics, and lived experience voices to explore what truly inclusive and transformative youth work looks like for disabled and … | cpd-courses | |||
 | Working with LGBTQ+ Young People | This intermediate-level course aims to equip you with the essential knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to effectively support and advocate for LGBTQ+ young people. LGBTQ+ young people are disproportionately … | cpd-courses intermediate | |||
 | Supervising Youth Workers: Building Culturally Competent, Reflective, and Effective Teams | Are you a youth work supervisor or team leader looking to strengthen your leadership and supervision skills? This advanced CPD eLearning course is designed to empower you with the essential tools and knowledge to lead with confidence, foster inclusive practices and support the professional development of your team. | advanced cpd-courses | |||
 | Safeguarding Disabled Young People eLearning | Welcome to the Safeguarding Disabled Young People eLearning course, designed specifically for professionals dedicated to the welfare and inclusion of disabled young people. This comprehensive course explores the unique safeguarding needs of disabled young people, emphasising their rights and the importance of their inclusion in various youth work settings. | cpd-courses intermediate | |||
 | Participation of Young People in Safeguarding | This intermediate-level course is designed for youth workers and trusted adults across various youth work settings. It focuses on the importance of actively involving young people in safeguarding, ensuring that … | cpd-courses | |||
 | Safeguarding Young Leaders | This intermediate-level course is designed for trusted adults working with young people in various settings. It provides essential safeguarding knowledge and practical strategies to support and empower young leaders in … | cpd-courses intermediate | |||
 | Youth Work Insight – Gender series | Watch or listen to our Youth Work Insight Gender Series to delve into the critical gender issues impacting young people and society. Facilitated by Abbee McLatchie, NYA Director and Deputy … | cpd-courses | |||
 | Participation: Developing Authentic and Effective Practice – Intermediate | Take your youth engagement skills to the next level with our Intermediate Participation course! In this interactive course, you’ll delve into the essential components of youth participation, exploring why it … | cpd-courses intermediate | |||
 | Introduction to Engaging with Young People | Introduction to Engaging with Young People is designed to support an improved understanding around communicating and interacting with young people. The course introduces the theoretical and practical foundations needed for those who engage with young people. | £150 (inc VAT) | accredited-courses cpd-courses | 150-inc-vat | |
 | Basic introduction to Safeguarding for Volunteer Youth Workers | Welcome to our basic course on safeguarding, tailored specifically for volunteers and learners embarking on their journey into youth work. This course serves as a foundational exploration of safeguarding principles and practices. For those actively engaged with young people on a regular basis, we recommend our intermediate course, ‘Safeguarding in Youth Work Setting’, which will be released in late-2023. Throughout this course, we will provide you with an overview of safeguarding, emphasising its vital importance in creating a safe and … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Introduction to Participation | This basic-level course invites you to embark on a brief yet insightful exploration of the fundamental principles of Participation. This course is all about understanding how to include young people in decision-making. We’ll explore ways to make sure their opinions don’t just get heard but make a positive impact. Delve into the fundamental values and principles of youth work by actively promoting Article 12 of the UNCRC, emphasising the significance of young people’s rights and how they are engaged in … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Introduction to Trauma Informed Practice | In this short course, we delve into the impact of trauma and its far-reaching implications on our mental and emotional well-being. Designed to empower participants with invaluable insights, this course unravels the intricacies of trauma, shedding light on why it leaves indelible marks on our lives. Whether you work directly with young people, alongside them, or within the communities supporting them, this course encourages a holistic understanding of trauma’s impact, both on those you serve and on your own well-being. … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Managing a Budget Within a Youth Work Setting | This comprehensive short course provides the essential information, knowledge and skills required to ensure that financial management is effective, a crucial aspect of legal and governance responsibilities. This module is thoughtfully designed for youth workers who hold varying levels of financial responsibility. Whether you’re involved in budget development, monitoring, funding proposals, or financial reporting to stakeholders, this course provides the basic knowledge and skills to excel in these areas. Through this course, you’ll become proficient in recognising and comprehending basic … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Safer Environments and Activities | This comprehensive short course is designed to empower youth workers with essential knowledge and practical skills in ensuring the safety and well-being of young people. In this course, we delve into the critical aspects of Health & Safety obligations and risk management, providing valuable insights to help organisations fulfil their responsibilities effectively. We will start by examining your organisation’s health and safety policy, ensuring that you have a clear understanding of its scope and coverage. Throughout this module, you will … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Setting up your safeguarding culture | This short course is designed to empower youth workers who are embarking on their journey into safeguarding or seeking guidance on establishing safeguarding practices. This course is also invaluable for those who have recently founded a youth group and wish to evaluate and enhance their organisation’s safeguarding culture. Throughout this learning experience, we will follow the journey of Alex, a dedicated youth worker who is eager to launch a local youth group focused on supporting 11–13-year-olds. This course equips you … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Supporting young people to overcome barriers to employment and education – Basic | This basic course outlines the knowledge and skills required to support young people who are Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) or who have been excluded from school. Learners should have access to a real work environment to get the most from this course. This course is suitable for those working across the youth sector and youth workers who wish to learn more about working with young people who are not in employment, education, or training. This course focuses … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Young People’s Transition to Independence | In this short course, we delve into the essential skills required to effectively support and collaborate with young people during their transition to independence. Trusted adults play a pivotal role in guiding young people through their journey to adulthood, a period marked by various challenges and experiences. As such, this course is suitable for anyone with a genuine interest in young people’s transitions. Throughout this course, we explore the relative nature of independence, recognising that it varies according to each … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Youth Work Pro: Developing Your Skill Set | This is a collection of 3 courses to develop your skill set to deliver activities about literacy, numeracy and life skills with young people. Developing literacy with young people This short course focuses on how to develop literacy activities with young people. Unlock the power of language and critical thinking with our engaging basic course designed to transform your approach to working with young people. You will explore the fundamental role of functional skills while gaining an understanding of literacy … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free | |
 | Detached and Outreach Youth Work | This comprehensive intermediate course is designed for professionals working with young people across various settings, especially those engaged in or contemplating detached and outreach youth work. This course consists of four informative chapters, each providing valuable insights into the intricacies of detached and outreach youth work. You will explore the essence of detached and outreach work, including its purpose and the essential skills and knowledge required to practice safely and effectively. We delve into the significance of power dynamics and … | Free | cpd-courses intermediate | free | |
 | Safeguarding in a Youth Work Setting – (NOCN Endorsed Programme) | This comprehensive intermediate course is designed for trusted adults across a range of young people’s settings. This course consists of three informative chapters that will provide you with the essential knowledge and understanding required to safeguard young people. | £30 (including VAT) | cpd-courses intermediate | 30-including-vat | |
 | Safeguarding in a Youth Work Setting | This comprehensive intermediate course is designed for trusted adults across a range of young people’s settings. This course consists of three informative chapters that will provide you with the essential knowledge and understanding required to safeguard young people. You will learn about child protection and safeguarding definitions and be able to recognise the forms of abuse and exploitation and their indicators. This learning will be underpinned by an extensive look at legislation, and organisational safeguarding practice, policies, and procedures. You … | Free | cpd-courses intermediate | free | |
 | Media Literacy and Digital Youth Work | This dynamic intermediate course is rooted in the principles of informal and non-formal education, as well as the fundamental tenets of youth work practice, including empowerment, equality, participation, and voluntary engagement. This meticulously designed course empowers youth workers and professionals in the youth sector to excel in their roles, particularly in the areas of media literacy and the digital realm. Throughout this course, we delve into the digital landscape, unravel complex digital concepts, to enable youth workers to effectively safeguard … | Free | cpd-courses intermediate | free | |
 | Supporting young Gypsies, Roma, and Travellers | This advanced groundbreaking 9-part series on supporting young Gypsies, Roma and Travellers has been created by the NYA who have created this course in partnership with Open Doors Education and Training (www.odet.org.uk), a sister organisation of The Traveller Movement. Throughout this series, you’ll delve into critical topics, including debunking myths and stereotypes, gaining a deep understanding of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities, addressing barriers to equal participation, and combatting marginalisation. We emphasise the importance of rights-based practice, inclusive youth work, … | Free | advanced cpd-courses | free | |
 | An Introduction to Risk Assessment for the Youth Sector | This short course follows our comprehensive training course on risk assessments, tailored specifically for staff engaged in youth work. This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct a youth work health and safety risk assessment, aligning with your organisation’s legal duty of care. The safety and well-being of both young people and staff involved in youth work are paramount in delivering high-quality programs. Please note that this module does not cover individualised risk … | Free | basic cpd-courses | free |
