New report recognises volunteers working with children

A new bellwether report launched today by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) showcases the important role played by an estimated six million adults across the UK in supporting the young.

Of the six million, more than 87% (one in eight adults in the UK) generously give up their time for free to help the nation’s 13-to-19 year olds. The largest part of  this group can be found on the playing fields and in the sports centres, with 3.7m people in the sports and recreation sector, as found by the report, ‘A picture worth millions’.

A further 1.18 million are involved in outdoor pursuits, ranging from trainers to expedition and activity leaders, while 600,000 are committed to youth work.

The findings come as a major programme is underway to maximise the potential of the millions of paid staff and volunteers working with British children.

Deirdre Quill, Director of Integrated Workforce at CWDC, said: “This research is groundbreaking. It reveals piece of research reveals the incredible amount of care, dedication and hard work invested across the country in supporting our young people’s development. Young people’s lives are more complex than ever, so it is pleasing to see so many people devoted to helping them through what can be a time of great challenges and opportunity.

“The evidence in this report will help us develop the workforce further and ensure all workers supporting young people, whatever their specialism, work better together. CWDC, together with its partners, is introducing a series of major reforms that will make the workforce more integrated and more skilled and support the invaluable contribution made by the third sector. Through initiatives such as the Young People’s Workforce Reform Programme we can help the workforce reach its full potential – and thereby support even more young people reach theirs.”

The aim of the Young People’s Workforce Reform Programme is that everyone who works with young people can offer their expertise from a set of agreed and shared skills and encourage the many different roles to work together more effectively.

The development of this common platform of skills and competences is part of the government’s ten-year Aiming High strategy.

Additionally the programme will include additional training programmes for volunteers and third sector organisations that often lack the funding for training.

For more information visit cwdcouncil.org.uk.