Over the past few years, Romsey Mill has been responding to the need to provide accessible and relevant youth work training locally. Since 2019, we have run accredited courses (Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles and Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice).

Our training courses have provided an opportunity for personal and professional development across Romsey Mill and wider afield. A number of our young leaders, volunteers and youth workers have benefitted from the teaching in areas such as safeguarding, young people’s development and reflective practice, with the qualification providing valuable recognition for their learning. One young woman started the Level 2 course as a young leader, gaining youth work experience through volunteering with Romsey Mill groups; she then achieved her Level 3 qualification with us last year and has now joined the team as a Youth Support Worker.

The courses have also been highly sought after by organisations across Cambridgeshire, looking to provide CPD opportunities for their staff and volunteers. This investment in the local youth work infrastructure has helped us to build good relationships with others such as Connections Bus Project and the Kite Trust, as well as several rural youth clubs. The training has a strong focus on the learners’ own youth work practice and gives space for all those involved to share their experience and knowledge with others.

One of our current Level 3 learners commented:

“I'm really enjoying the course, and I'm already applying what I'm learning. Thank you for making this so relevant to our current practice”

As word has spread about the training on offer, we have connected with two organisations based in London – XLP and the Salmon Youth Centre – who have a similar approach to youth work as Romsey Mill. We have been able to provide training for their apprentices and young leaders as part of our training courses and this has given a new dimension to the experiences of youth work which are shared as part of the sessions.

The Level 2 course runs over 12 weeks and we are nearing the end of our sixth course. So far, 74 people have achieved their Level 2 qualification, with another 39 expecting to receive the award by the summer. The Level 3 course is takes 9 months and our second cohort of students are currently finalising their work. We awarded five Level 3 certificates last year and are expecting to award another 10 this year.

For details of future training courses or sessions, or to be added to our mailing list to be kept up to date regularly, please contact Romsey Mill on 01223 213162, and ask for our Training Lead, or email: [email protected]