National Body for Youth Work (NBYW) in Wales Delivery Board meeting: 8 January 2026

• 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, CWVYS (Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services) (PG)
• Loren Henry, Chief Executive, Urban Circle (LH)
• Sian Lewis, Chief Executive, Urdd Gobaith Cymru (SL)
• Catherine Taylor, Principal Youth Officer, Denbighshire County Council (CT)
• Jo Trott, Deputy Director, Learner Pathways, Welsh Government (JT) 
• Dyfan Evans, Head of Youth Engagement Branch, Welsh Government (DE) 
• Victoria Allen, Senior Youth Work Strategy Manager, Welsh Government (VA) 
• Bethan Langmay, Youth Work Strategy Manager, Welsh Government (BL)

RM welcomed Board members to the meeting. No conflicts of interest were declared.

The Delivery Board approved the minutes and action points from the previous meeting and confirmed they were content with the updated Terms of Reference. RM confirmed that no objections had been received regarding the Privacy Notice circulated to members. 

Action: Officials to arrange publication of the minutes from the meeting held on 14 November 2025, and the updated Terms of Reference, on the Welsh Government website.

Officials presented an updated engagement plan, incorporating feedback provided by members during the previous meeting, including comments regarding the risk of ‘consultation fatigue’, as well as the approach to engaging with young people.

In discussions regarding engagement with young people, the Board explored whether a single lead organisation could be commissioned to design and co-ordinate the work, with delivery routed through existing local and national networks to ensure reach, consistency and quality. Members emphasised the importance of gathering the views from as wide a range of young people as possible, including those who do not currently engage with youth work, and suggested considering drawing on approaches used in Wales for large‑scale youth surveys, as a potential model for achieving this. 

Action: Officials to feed in views shared regarding the appointment of a single, lead organisation to lead on engagement with young people into the plans for the formal consultation phase.

Action: Officials to update the engagement plan to reflect the Board’s feedback and share via email for Members’ final comments.

Officials introduced an outline timeline working towards the establishment of a NBYW. This timeline will be updated as work progresses. It was also proposed that a review of the timeline is retained as a standing agenda item at the beginning of all Board meetings as part of oversight arrangements. Board members discussed the need to maintain momentum as this work progresses. Board members asked whether the NBYW could be delivered any sooner. JT explained that, given the complexities around delivering something like this, the timeframe was already extremely ambitious. 

Action: Officials to review the delivery timetable and consider whether there are opportunities to accelerate any phases of work.

Officials introduced a short briefing to support members’ discussions with stakeholders regarding the establishment of the NBYW. Board members were encouraged to discuss these topics with colleagues and wider stakeholders to help inform future Board discussions. Similar briefings will be provided to members as work progresses to help inform the Board’s work as well as identify any sensitive information that should not be shared outside of meetings.

Action: Officials to provide further briefings for Board members as appropriate, to help to continue to support discussions.

The next Delivery Board meeting will take place on 25 February 2026. 

Officials proposed establishing ‘task and finish’ subgroups to drive forward workstreams where further exploration of specific areas or topics may be needed. Board members suggested that the development of potential financial structures and governance arrangements, including mechanisms to enable meaningful youth participation, would be helpful areas for initial explorations.

Action: Officials to develop more detailed proposals on the establishment of subgroups for the Board’s consideration at its next meeting. 

Board members reviewed the revised draft of the NBYW’s role and remit, noting that it had been updated to reflect their previous feedback. Members provided suggestions to further enhance the draft. 

Action: Officials to revise the draft role and remit and circulate an updated version to Board members in advance of its next meeting.