In line with our commitment to support high–quality practice and lifelong learning in the youth sector, the NYA regularly hosts webinars and community of practice sessions supported by our NYA specialists, as well as a range of external, expert partners.
Learn. Reflect. Connect. Shape the Future
Our flagship Youth Work Connect and Youth Work Insight sessions provide accessible spaces for youth workers, our partners in the allied sector, policy makers and sector leaders to engage in critical reflection, peer learning and expert-led dialogue on the issues shaping youth work today.
Youth Work Connect sessions: peer learning in practice
Connect Sessions are informal, interactive online gatherings where youth work practitioners come together to reflect, share experiences, and explore practical solutions to real-world challenges. Grounded in a Community of Practice approach, these sessions encourage open dialogue, peer support and collaborative learning. Each session focuses on a key theme shaped by sector feedback, emerging issues, and national guidance, and includes expert input, breakout discussions, and follow-up resources.
Why join?
- Strengthen your everyday practice
- Connect with peers across the sector
- Reflect on your experiences in a safe, inclusive space
- Discover new tools and approaches
- Contribute to better outcomes for young people
- Receive a digital badge to evidence your commitment to your Continuing Professional Development. This can be shown on your Youth Worker Register record.
“I really enjoyed the structure, and didn’t feel like it was oversaturated with information. I felt like the information shared was accessible to people of varying levels, and that the focus of the breakout rooms were inclusive of all perspectives and experiences.” – Session attendee
Youth Work Insight sessions: deep dives into youth work
The Youth Work Insight webinar programme explores one central theme each year through a series of four 90-minute sessions. These closed, registration-only webinars are designed for youth workers, policy makers, academics, and organisational leaders. Each session features expert panels, research insights and policy analysis. They offer a space for honest, reflective dialogue on the issues shaping youth work today.
Why attend?
- Engage with leading thinkers and practitioners
- Explore emerging research and policy
- Reflect on challenges and opportunities in the field
- Receive curated resources and key takeaways
- Help shape the future of youth work
Our 2026 / 27 series
The theme for this year’s series of Youth Work Insights is Exploring Spirituality in Youth Work.
Faith, spirituality and religion shape many young people’s lives — influencing identity, values, culture, belonging and wellbeing. Yet these dimensions are often misunderstood, avoided, or approached with uncertainty in youth work practice.
This panel-based webinar‑series on youth work, faith, spirituality and religion creates a vital space for learning, reflection and dialogue. It supports youth workers, managers and leaders to engage with these themes ethically, inclusively and safely, while staying true to youth work values and professional standards.
The series will explore how youth workers can:
- Work inclusively with a person-centred focus, recognising difference, including religion or belief, without stereotyping or marginalising young people
- Create safer, relational spaces where young people can explore values, beliefs, identity and belonging as part of youth work’s holistic purpose
- Work confidently and appropriately across faith based‑ and non‑faith youth settings, recognising how faith may shape values, identity, and relationships
- Practise with clear professional boundaries, ensuring personal beliefs or institutional faith contexts do not compromise inclusive, ethical youth work
- Balance inclusion and safeguarding, particularly where power, belief, culture and authority intersect
- Reflect on practice, learning from others and strengthening ethical decision-making‑ through shared discussion and critical reflection
This series of session will take place on:
- Tuesday 16 June 2026
- Tuesday 8 September 2026
- Thursday 5 November 2026
- Tuesday 16 February 2027
Abbee McLatchie
Our Youth Work Insight Sessions are facilitated by NYA Director of Youth Work and Deputy CEO Abbee.
As Director of Youth Work, Abbee McLatchie leads on the development of professional standards; training and development; the National Youth Work Curriculum; as well as quality and safeguarding frameworks.
Dr. Naomi Thompson
To ensure the relevance and adequacy of this series of Youth Work Insights, we have engaged with Dr Naomi Thompson as a consultant.
Naomi is a leading expert in faith-based youth work and has a range of publications that are relevant to young people and faith.
Zara Todd
To ensure the relevance and adequacy of this series of Youth Work Insights, we have worked with our consultant Zara Todd.
Zara is a freelance trainer, researcher and facilitator and disability activist who has an extensive background in inclusive youth work.
British Sign Language
At our Youth Work Insight sessions we are joined by British Sign Language Interpreters reregistered with the Regulatory Body for Sign Language Interpreters & Translators.
“I think the session was really engaging… The panel were truly expects in field who were able to articulate and express themselves in a way that i could follow and learn from.” – Session attendee
Who we work with
We work with a diverse range of expert partners and organisations across the youth, academic and allied sectors to enrich our Connect and Insight sessions. These collaborators bring specialist knowledge, lived experience and fresh perspectives that help shape session themes, spark meaningful dialogue, and support reflective practice. Together, we co-create inclusive learning spaces that strengthen youth work across the UK.
Partners we work with include:
Featured resources
Safeguarding standards for the youth sector
These standards have been designed to support good safeguarding practices for all those working with children and young people.
Keeping Young People in Sight: Designated Safeguarding Leads in the Youth Sector
Guidance on young people’s known and emerging needs.
