Following a comprehensive consultation and the publication of its “Pathways to Practice – a consultation on the future of youth work qualifications” report, the National Youth Agency (NYA) has announced a series of reforms to youth work qualifications.
The changes are designed to address critical shortages in the workforce and secure the future of the profession by increasing the number of trained practitioners, increasing accessibility and diversity of entrants to the sector and reinforcing youth work as a skilled and valued profession.
The reformed qualification framework also aims to build up the sector in response to the prediction that youth work is projected to be one of the fastest-growing professions by 2035, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research. The report cites that Youth and community workers ranks fourth in the list of top 20 occupations experiencing greatest rate of change in terms of employment prospects by 2035.
The resulting Pathways to Practice report draws upon the insights gathered from more than 500 stakeholders through the consultation exercise undertaken between December 2024 – May 2025, including an online survey, focus groups and written submissions. It responds to a call from the youth sector for a more coherent, inclusive and progressive qualifications system that recognises the diversity of the workforce and supports inclusive professional development.
The key proposals are:
- Strengthen the essential skills for youth workers a by developing modular units, including completion of individual units to gain training and qualifications. Furthermore, to ensure that these essential skills are linked to core principles and values of youth work, not just general employment skills
- Ensure there is greater recognition of learning and experience via a RAPL (Recognition and Accreditation of Prior Learning) system and increased modular learning’
- Introduce a Higher National Diploma (HND) / Higher National Certificate (HNC) at Levels 4 and 5 to bridge progression to Level 6 and count toward JNC-recognised professional formation
- Ensure there is a clear progression route from entry-level to degree-level, with levels 1–5 focusing on developing competence, confidence, and practical experience
- Continue to promote Level 6+ undergraduate degree, degree apprenticeship and post graduate courses
”Reform of the current qualification framework is imperative if we are to rebuild the youth work sector to meet the rising demand for youth workers to support upstream interventions to tackle violence, mental health, and the increasing isolation of young people. Young people deserve good youth work, and the opportunities it provides to support them to unlock their potential.
It strives to attract new entrants to youth work and upskill those already working and volunteering within it so that we have a strong and sustainable sector which can respond to demand, support the government’s National Youth Strategy for improving young people's outcomes and help empower young people to feel valued within their communities.
The reformed framework will ensure that all those with the passion and potential to deliver effective youth work can access a qualification pathway that works for them through a range of affordable and accessible entry points whilst and reinforcing the integrity of youth work principles and values and accreditation of essential skills.”
Abbee McLatchieDirector of Youth Work/Deputy CEO, National Youth Agency
Youth work in England is currently delivered by a mixture of degree-qualified professionals, practitioners and sessional staff and volunteers which is estimated as follows:
- 21,150 paid youth workers
- 14,350 volunteers
- 4,350 youth workers are qualified to Level 6 or above (professional youth worker)
- 4,200 youth workers are qualified to Level 2/3
With fewer trained practitioners, young people are lacking the support of suitably trained youth workers when they need them most. The impact of this is particularly felt by those in marginalised or under-served areas.
Throughout the remainder of 2025/26, the NYA will review and redesign Levels 1–3 qualifications with the Awarding Bodies Network and youth work trainers. It will also co-design Level 4 and 5 (HNC/HND) qualifications.
Piloting and implementation of the reforms will take place in 2026, with evaluation in 2027. From 2027 onwards, the NYA will produce an Annual Sector Qualifications report to track uptake, delivery capacity, outcomes and impact on the workforce.
