BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work

Duration: 3 years full-time

Requirements:

Applicants must have three A-levels at grades CCD or above, BTEC triple grades MMP or above, or Access 3-36 D/M with min 3D and GCSE English Language at grade 4 or grade C or above.

UCAS points: 88UCAS code: L530

Fees UK students: £9,250 per annum

Fees for International students: £11,000 per annum

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A DBS check is required. All suitable applicants will be interviewed during which you will need to be able to demonstrate a level of interest and experience. Applicants with other qualifications and/or experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Course Overview

Through supervised work placements and university-based study, you will learn how to work with young people to help them realise their potential. This delicate, expert approach makes use of informal education processes to build relationships with and earn the trust of young people. The course blends theoretical knowledge with essential practical skills to help you develop your professional identity and meet the latest national occupational standards, as set out by the National Youth Agency.

More Info

Placements are a significant part of the course and help you build the professional confidence and skills necessary to make a difference to other peoples’ lives. You can do your placement in three different environments, broadening your skills and experience as you progress. You may choose to do one of your placements overseas, for example with our partners Helsinki Youth Service. Each youth and community work student is unique, and therefore brings their own interests and skill sets to the profession. This course is all about fostering students’ individual passions within the field.

Why this course at Marjon?

More than 25 years’ experience training some of the UK’s most outstanding youth and community work professionals.
Assessed and validated by The National Youth Agency (NYA).
You can achieve both an academic qualification and the professional qualification in youth work (JNC).
Practical focus with the equivalent of one year on placements over the three years.
Placement opportunities regionally, nationally and internationally.
Opportunity to work with young people and communities.

Perfect if you're curious about:

Is it more difficult being a teenager in the 21st century?
Are we really ready to listen to young people?
Are young people a cause of concern or a hope for the future?
Is society scared of or scared for communities in crisis?
What does the future look like to a 13 year old?
Have you got what it takes to make a difference?

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Modules

Year 1 and 2 modules are compulsory. Year 3 modules are compulsory unless marked with an asterisk (*):

1st Year

Youth & Community Work: Principles & Practice
You’ll explore the nature of youth & community work, its histories, values and process and the many different settings and methods associated with youth & community work practice. You’ll develop an understanding of key concepts such as participation and empowerment and how these are central to informal education.
Communication in Context
You’ll explore the elements of effective interpersonal communication and how conversation is used for informal learning purposes. You’ll develop an understanding of communication models, verbal, non-verbal and para-language, the use of power, active listening and communicating with groups and enhance your self-awareness.
Developing Professional Practice
You’ll explore the notion of professionalism and what it means to be a professional practitioner and an understanding of the Professional Principles and Ethical Conduct, the National Occupational Standards, reflective practice and supervision. You’ll prepare to enter your Level 1 Professional Practice placement.
Level 1 Professional Practice
You’ll complete 306 hours of supervised practice in an appropriate setting over a six month period and achieve a range of National Occupational Standards. You’ll develop understanding and skills in forming positive relationships and using these to create opportunities for informal learning.
Social Inequalities and Anti-oppressive Practice
You’ll explore the key concepts of social divisions e.g. class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, ageing and religion, and the nature and impact of discrimination. You’ll develop an understanding of the significance of power, language, discourse and inequalities and increase your awareness of your own history, biography and value base.
Social Policy and Social Welfare
You’ll explore the notion of social democracy and examine a range of perspectives from Beveridge and the post-war welfare state to current day. You’ll develop an understanding of a number of different perspectives e.g. neo-liberalism, conservatism, socialism and environmental perspectives.

2nd Year

Effective Groupwork
You’ll explore the theories and practice of groupwork and the use of groupwork in informal education. You’ll develop an understanding of group facilitation, power and empowerment, and group management; building observation and reviewing skills to enable you to effectively use group work in practice.
Organising, Managing and Leading Practice
You’ll explore a range of management and leadership theories and examine how these work in practice. You’ll develop an understanding of organisational structures and cultures, managing people, supervision, and leading programme, including aspects of planning and evaluation.
Policy and Practice
You’ll explore the political landscape, political perspectives on social policy and the policy making process of the UK, and the construction of the welfare subject. You’ll develop an understanding of policy responses to social exclusion, social mobility, sustainability and austerity and these play out in practice.
Level 2 Professional Practice
You’ll complete 444 hours of supervised practice in an appropriate setting over a twelve week period and achieve a range of National Occupational Standards. You’ll develop understanding and skills in organising and managing a specific project within the setting.

3rd Year

Practitioner Research
You’ll explore research from a ‘practitioner as researcher’ perspective. You’ll develop an understanding of research ethics, research methods, reviewing literature, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. You’ll be prepared to conduct your practitioner research project.
Changing Practice: Current controversies & dilemmas
You’ll explore the range of issues, controversies & complexities which underlie contemporary youth work practice. You’ll have the opportunity to critically assess a current issue, controversy or complexity which underlies your own practice articulate an attempt to address it.
Practitioner Research Project
You’ll explore, through research, an area of your choosing (and appropriate to the course). You’ll develop a critical understanding of a practice-related issue or topic in order to produce a dissertation, and develop your expertise in this area.
Level 3 Professional Practice
You’ll complete 144 hours of supervised practice in an appropriate setting over a twelve week period and achieve a range of National Occupational Standards. You’ll develop understanding and implementing youth & community work strategy within the setting.

What might you become?

The jobs market has changed significantly over the past few years and these are exciting times for graduates from this programme as the range and scope of employment opportunities has never been so diverse.

Opportunities exist across the sectors, in voluntary and charitable organisations, in the public sector, for example children’s’ services, schools and colleges; and in the private sector.

Recent graduates have forged careers in a range of settings including: school inclusion projects and alternative curriculum projects, in youth offending teams, in youth projects and detached projects, in housing and advice agencies and in housing projects.

“I feel very passionate about my work, it makes a huge impact on the people I meet. Taking time to understand and explore why a person behaves in a certain way and how to react to this is something I explored throughout my degree. I am more confident in my own professional judgement and feel confident in managing and supervising volunteers. My three years at Marjon saw me grow as a person and due to the support received from my lecturers, I left feeling ready to take on new challenges.”

“I didn’t think I would ever go to uni. The tutors were really good in giving me the confidence to go on and I did well, its one of the things I’m most proud of. Uni gave me the language to be able to have this job and the understanding of the law. Five years ago I’d have thought I could never have this job and that’s what going to Marjon gave me.”

“I support young people to improve their overall health by reducing problematic drug and/or alcohol use and associated harms. The work is diverse, no two sessions ever the same. What I love most is building the rapport and therapeutic relationships critical for the meaningful work to take place and improve wellbeing and future outcomes. The degree has given a solid foundation to all of my practice and vital understanding of the theory behind the dynamics of therapeutic relationships.”

How will you be taught?

Teaching generally includes 9 hours a week, split between lectures and activity-based seminars. Tutorials focus on individual personal and professional development. Three professional practice placements totaling 888 hours take place in up to three different settings and are supervised by professional practitioners. In the final year, the practitioner research project enables students to specialise in an area of their choosing.

How will you be assessed?

Assessment methods are based on coursework (essays, reports reviews), presentations and the production of placement files that include reflective practice and self-assessment. Professional practice is assessed against the National Occupational Standards.

Course Leader

Dr Susan Cooper

Senior Lecturer in Childhood, Youth & Community

Sue is a youth work academic and author, specialising in participatory practice. She was youth and community worker for thirty years, working as youth worker in Norfolk, Birmingham and Gloucestershire and then and as a senior manager in Hampshire. Currently, her work on evaluating the impact of youth work is influencing youth work practice regionally and internationally (Scotland, France, Italy, Estonia, Finland and Western Australia). Her book ‘Participatory Evaluation in Youth and Community Work’ was published in 2017.

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Current Students

“I enjoy the wide range of opportunities in terms of placement options and career choices. One thing I really like about the course is that students can pick their placements to utilise their strengths and develop where they need to. The course also covers a wide range of subjects and support is available as and when the student requires it. Placement experience has allowed me to explore my opinions and values and safely challenge those. As a result I have developed and grown as a person.”

“I thoroughly enjoy the placements, we are able to gain a variety of experiences of working within different youth work settings. The lectures and seminars take place within small groups, allowing me to meet other students who are studying different degrees. The small groups enhance my learning as everyone has the opportunity to share knowledge and experience. My academic adviser was essential to me (especially in the first few months), answering any questions I had and offering advice.”

“I really enjoy the placements, these allow you to put what you have studied in class into practise. The placements also allow you to develop your own practise in a safe learning environment, with fantastic support from the university lectures and placement tutors. Placements are very challenging but very rewarding. The course has helped boost my confidence in practise and it is okay to ask for help when needed. The tutors are really helpful and are always there either via email or phone.”

"I love the small intimate group which our seminars and lectures are based in making some great friends along the way. This course has proved to me that with the right attitude and consistent work you can really put into practise what you learn. In my second year placement I found a whole new side to myself, I was working in the office and networking with different areas of youth, it impacted my academic work in a really positive way. It has developed my work, into a passion!"

Lecturers

Dr Jon Ord

Associate Professor

Jon has worked for 20 years as a youth work practitioner and brings that knowledge and commitment to youth work to his teaching and research. He is particularly interested in the impact of policy on practice as well as the management of youth and community work and outdoor education. Jon is leading a major research project into the value and impact of Youth Work on the lives of young people in Europe.

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Chris Simpson

Senior Lecturer Institute of Education

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Dr Sue Wayman

Senior Lecturer

Sue teaches primarily in Education Studies but has a multidisciplinary understanding with experience of teaching Development Studies and Geography here. She is working on research projects both nationally and internationally.

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