6th November 2024
An innovative programme which has given thousands of young people across Cumbria access to youth work was celebrated at an event in the county ahead of Youth Work Week (4-10 November 2024).
Better Tomorrows was launched in 2021 with the aim of increasing the number of trained youth workers and increasing the number of young people able to access quality youth work.
The programme was created by David Beeby, Chair of Cumbria Community Foundation and a former High Sheriff of Cumbria, to address what he described as a “huge gap” in youth work provision.
Since the programme was launched, more than 5,000 new young people have been engaged in youth work, across almost 12,000 hours of new youth work provision. The programme has trained 52 new accredited youth workers and funded 42 new youth work jobs across Cumbria.
More than 60 people attended the celebratory event at Barrow Town Hall – a mix of funders, funded organisations, youth workers who have undergone training and young people who benefit.
Kelly Bell, youth worker for South Workington Youth Partnership in the Whitehaven area, explained the impact of the programme. “Thanks to Better Tomorrows, we’ve been able to extend our youth work offer to those who wouldn’t have had access to youth workers before.
“We’ve helped several young people gain ASDAN awards as well. Thanks again to Better Tomorrows for allowing us to deliver this vital service.”
ASDAN awards are nationally approved qualifications based around the development of personal, social and employability skills.
As well as funding to pay for accredited youth work training, which is delivered in person by Cumbria Youth Alliance, Better Tomorrows also offers multi-year grants of up to £75,000 to community organisations that set up or provide new youth work opportunities for local people.
Over 50 funders have contributed to the programme, including the Community Foundation, Francis Scott Trust, Four Acre Trust, Nuclear Waste Services, many local businesses and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
David Beeby said: “The support for Better Tomorrows so far has been truly fantastic. The programme was always designed in a way that, the more money we raise, the bigger difference we can make.
“The programme’s achievements are incredible, in terms of the number of young people reached and the number of new youth workers trained and recruited, which will ensure the benefits are felt for many years to come.
“I am so grateful to those who have already committed to continue funding Better Tomorrows and would love to hear from anyone who would like to join us in supporting this life-changing programme.”
Better Tomorrows was initially a three-year programme but was extended following a commitment by the National Lottery Community Fund to invest £445,270 to train more than 200 youth workers over the next five years.
Becky Wolstenholme, Chief Executive of Cumbria Youth Alliance said: “Cumbria Youth Alliance is delighted to be the lead partner providing the training element of the Better Tomorrows programme. With huge thanks to Lottery players and funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, securing long term opportunities to embed a trained workforce throughout Cumbria, providing high quality youth work for our young people.
“Working together with Cumbria Community Foundation and the very many third sector organisations in Cumbria helps to prevent duplication of service and, through this training offer, can and does upskill a crucial workforce who provide a fantastic service to young people throughout our communities.”
Now that funding for the training element of the programme has been secured until 2028, Cumbria Community Foundation is seeking funding for youth worker salary costs.
For more information about the programme, and how to support it, contact Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice & Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation on 01900 820827 or email annalee@cumbriafoundation.org.
Below is a video where youth workers and young people who have benefitted from youth work explain the difference the Better Tomorrows programme has made to them.