National Body for Youth Work (NBYW) in Wales Delivery Board meeting: 25 February 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).
• 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).
• Bethan Langmay, Youth Work Strategy Manager, Welsh Government (BL).

Apologies

• Sian Lewis, Chief Executive, Urdd Gobaith Cymru (SL).
• Victoria Allen, Senior Youth Work Strategy Manager, Welsh Government (VA).

JT welcomed Board members to the meeting in RM’s absence for the first part of the meeting. No conflicts of interest were declared.

The Delivery Board approved the minutes and action points from the previous meeting.

Action: Officials to publish the minutes from the meeting held on 8 January 2026 on the Welsh Government website.

Action: Officials to circulate to Board members a draft procurement specification for appointing a supplier to lead on engagement with young people during the formal consultation on the NBYW and to invite feedback from Board members via email.

Officials advised that the overall timeline remains unchanged from the version presented at the previous meeting. The timeline will be included as a standing agenda item for Delivery Board meetings going forward to enable regular discussions on progress.

Officials presented a summary of the feedback from the pre-consultation engagement meetings that took place between early January and early February with key stakeholders. The pre-consultation meetings focussed on the role, functions and early priorities of the NBYW; youth voice, engagement and inclusion; and system alignment, governance and independence. The pre-consultation phase outcomes will be used to inform the formal consultation on the establishment of the NBYW.

In discussions regarding the pre-consultation phase outcomes, Board members emphasised the importance of ensuring the NBYW’s governance arrangements reflect the diversity of the sector and support the body’s strategic and independent role. Board members raised the need for further clarity on scrutiny, accountability, and funding models, as well as the interface with Welsh Government and the forthcoming statutory framework for youth work.

Action: Officials to develop governance and operational options, including funding models, for consideration by the Board.

Officials introduced proposals to establish time‑limited, task‑and‑finish subgroups focusing on governance and accountability, and funding and resources, to support the work of the Delivery Board. It was agreed that a member of the Delivery Board will chair and vice-chair each of the subgroups, with subgroup membership determined through expressions of interest and targeted invitations, ensuring representation from across the youth work sector. Officials proposed that a third subgroup focusing on people and HR be established later in the year, as the NBYW’s structure becomes clearer.

Officials confirmed that the next Delivery Board meeting will take place online on 23 April 2026. Board members agreed that the meetings scheduled for 9 June and 5 November 2026 will take place in hybrid format.

Officials introduced the risk register. Board members noted the content and welcomed its use to support delivery and oversight.