National Body for Youth Work (NBYW) in Wales Delivery Board meeting: 14 November 2025

• Ruth Meadows (Chair), Director of Tertiary Education, Welsh Government (RM)
• Sharon Davies, Head of Education, Welsh Local Government Association (ShD)
• Steve Davis, Principal Youth Officer, Pembrokeshire County Council (SD)
• Steve Drowley, Chair, Education Training Standards Wales (SDr)
• Paul Glaze, Chief Executive, Council for Wales for Voluntary Youth Work Services (PG)
• Sian Lewis, Chief Executive, Urdd Gobaith Cymru (SL)
• Victoria Allen, Senior Youth Work Strategy Manager, Welsh Government (VA)
• Dyfan Evans, Head of Youth Engagement Branch, Welsh Government (DE)
• Bethan Langmay, Youth Work Strategy Manager, Welsh Government (BL)
• Jo Trott, Deputy Director, Learner Pathways, Welsh Government (JT)

Apologies

• Loren Henry, Chief Executive, Urban Circle
• Catherine Taylor, Principal Youth Officer, Denbighshire County Council

RM welcomed Board members to their first Delivery Board Meeting. Board members introduced themselves, outlining their current roles and experience. RM set out her vision for the Board and the pivotal role it will have in delivering a NBYW for Wales.

Officials provided a summary of the background that led to the Interim Youth Work Board’s recommendation, in its final report for Welsh Government, to establish a NBYW to provide improved strategic leadership, support coordination and facilitate work aimed at enhancing the quality and sustainability of youth work in Wales.

This built on earlier calls, including those from the Children, Young People and Education Committee in 2016, which heard evidence in support of a national model to drive youth work policy and implementation across statutory and voluntary sectors, while enabling local decisions to shape provision in response to local needs.

The Board agreed the ToR in principle, subject to minor amendments, including incorporating national and international good practice in youth work, into the ToR. Members welcomed proposals for thematic ‘task and finish’ sub-groups to focus on specific workstreams and complement Board discussions, with an emphasis on embedding the voices of young people.

It was confirmed that, in line with the Privacy Notice, members’ names and organisations will be published on the Welsh Government website in minutes and written statements. Members requested clear guidance on what information can be appropriately shared with others outside of Board meetings.

Actions

• Officials to update the ToR to reflect the Board’s suggestions.
• Members to contact BL with any questions regarding the Privacy Notice.
• Officials to provide guidance at the next meeting regarding communication with the wider sector.

Officials outlined an initial draft of the purpose and proposed functions of the NBYW. This draft role and remit set out that the NBYW would focus on providing strategic leadership, unifying the sector’s voice, and championing youth work. It was proposed that it would play a key role in supporting collaboration between organisations across the sector and beyond, co-ordinating workforce development and training activity, developing research, acting as a hub for sharing best practice, and fostering innovation.

Officials emphasised that the aim was for the NBYW to help organisations respond to national priorities while respecting local autonomy in service design and delivery, it was proposed that the NBYW would not manage or inspect local services, nor assume regulatory roles such as workforce registration or qualification endorsement, which would remain with existing bodies.

Further engagement will be undertaken to refine these proposals in collaboration with stakeholders. Officials will draft a working version of the role and remit to guide ongoing discussions with the Board as this work evolves.

Actions

• Officials to create a working document on the NBYW’s proposed functions.

Discussion focussed on planning engagement that enables young people to meaningfully comment on tangible issues regarding the establishment and implementation of a NBYW, as well as avoiding consultation fatigue.

Members suggested initial stakeholder engagement could be incorporated into existing or planned engagement activity with the youth work sector.

Actions

• Board members to notify officials of any planned engagement with the youth work sector.
• Officials to present revised engagement plans, taking Board members’ comments into consideration, at the next meeting.

The next two meetings will take place on 8 January and 25 February.