A student working at a desk with classmates

Course details

UCAS Code

L593

Year of entry

2025

Duration

3 YRS (FT) 6 YRS (PT)

UCAS Tariff

80-112

Institution Code

G53

Location

Wrexham

*Subject to re-validation

Why choose this course?

This exciting course is specially designed for those wanting to work positively with children, young people, marginalised groups, and communities to support their personal, social, and political development.

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for youth and community workers is the body that sets the national framework used to grade and pay youth work jobs. The JNC recognises youth and community workers’ qualifications which have been professionally approved by the Education Training Standards (ETS) Committee.

Develop informal educational practices; examining youth and community theory; and develop your practice in working with young people and communities through participation, empowerment and partnership working. 

The course welcomes diverse students, who are passionate about social justice, young people’s rights and want to develop a greater understanding of societal influences that directly shape and influence the field of Youth and Community work.

You will:

  • Gain a professional youth work qualification endorsed by Education Training Standards Wales.
  • Be able to register with the Education Workforce Council in Wales as a Youth Worker upon successful completion of the course.
  • Have opportunities for a part-funded placement through the Erasmus programme.
  • Be able to develop youth and community work skills internationally both in Europe and further afield, considering the impact of emerging trends in Welsh, UK, European and global youth policy and practice.
ETS Cymru logo
Four students chatting around a table

Youth and Community atWrexham University

Thinking of a career in Youth and Community? Hear from lecturers and students about our course at Wrexham University.

Key course features

  • JNC professional recognition, endorsed by ETS Wales.
  • Wrexhamg University has a long-standing history of 45 years of teaching Youth and Community Work across North Wales  
  • 800 hours of on-the-job placement experience, with up to 3 placement providers.
  • International modules and placement opportunities.
  • Learning and teaching using blended learning approaches (subject to re-validation).
  • An experienced teaching team actively engaged with current practice, research, and publications.
  • Preparation for study at postgraduate level; and preparation for entry into employment with management, leadership, and research experience.
  • Small cohort of students, for tutors to offer personalised 1-1 support to students. Our course is led by a team of staff team with published work year on year for the past 5 years.
  • Graduate with a professional qualification(s), alongside registration onto the Education Workforce Council, which is essential to practice Youth Work in Wales.

What you will study

This is a course for those wanting to work within informal education, examining youth and community theory and developing your practice in working with young people and communities through participation, empowerment and partnership working.

There are opportunities to develop youth and community work skills internationally both in Europe and further afield; taking into account the impact of emerging trends in Welsh, UK, European and global youth policy and practice.

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)

In year one you will study the values and principles of youth and community work, creative skills and group work, and develop a knowledge of safeguarding and multi-agency working.

MODULES

  • Placement 1 (Core): Preparation for Professional Practice, the first fieldwork placement helps you to establish the basic foundations of good youth and community work practice and embed reflective thinking skills.
  • Values and Principles of Youth and Community Work (Core): Examine the core principles of youth and community work. Understand the values of informal education, in particular recognising and understanding anti-oppressive practice. You will start to explore and develop your professional identity.
  • Working creatively with groups (Core): An exciting module bringing together group work theory and creative practice.
  • Working Together to Safeguard Others (Core): Exploring the role of the youth and community worker in safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults, and how to work effectively within multi-agency settings.

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)

In years two and three, you will build upon this learning, exploring politics and social policy, analysing informal education and developing skills in social research, international youth work, leadership and supervising others.

MODULES

  • Placement 2 - Integrating Professional Practice (Core): The second fieldwork placement is a block placement, allowing you to be embedded within the field of youth and community work and develop your skills in practice. This could be a placement within Europe or further afield.
  • Political and Sociological Perspectives in Youth and Community Work (Core): Identify and analyse how political agendas and social policies can shape the context of practice, and recognise different political perspectives on welfare and social policy.
  • International Youth Work (Core): An opportunity to explore the benefits of international youth work and intercultural learning for young people. Identifying different youth work practices across the world, and the role of the youth and community worker in understanding their own, and helping others to understand their own cultural identity.
  • Research Methods (Core): Identify what is meant by social research, and how it can be applied to investigate an area of practice or a social issue within youth and community work.

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)

In your final year, you will also undertake a research project and develop skills and values that demonstrate your ability to become a professional practitioner.

MODULES

  • Placement 3 – Leading in Professional Practice (Core): An opportunity for you to put leadership and supervisory skills into practice in a youth and community work setting.
  • Research Project (Core): Supported by a research project supervisor, you will conduct a piece of unique research into an area related to youth and community work that will positively impact practice and policy.
  • Leading in Contemporary Youth and Community Work Practice (Core): Identify and critically evaluate models of leadership in youth and community work contexts, analysing the skills required to lead in contemporary practice and the demands of working within evidence-based practice environments.
  • Professional Supervision (Core): You will understand the importance of professional supervision in supporting and developing staff and volunteers, and develop skills to implement this in practice.
  • Critical Analysis of Education in Youth and Community Work (Core): Set within the current youth and community work policy context this module is an in-depth exploration of the core values and principles of informal education, critically analysing the concepts of dialogue, participation, empowerment, partnership and anti-oppressive practice. You will complete the module having developed your professional identity as informal educators.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

The academic requirements for the course are 80-112 UCAS tariff points at GCE A-level or equivalent. Appropriate AS-Level and Level 3 Key Skills qualifications will also be taken into account. Previous experience of youth and community work rather than academic qualifications can be taken into account.

In addition to this, all applicants are required to have 100 hours of relevant practical experience.  This can be gained in voluntary or paid work within the field of youth and community work.  The programme team are able to advise students regarding volunteering and practice experience opportunities if required.

All applicants considered suitable will be interviewed, with those with disabilities or from relevant access courses/Level 3 youth work courses automatically being offered an interview.

Before being offered an unconditional place on this course you will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance (previously known as CRB) and pay the appropriate fee so that a check can be made on your suitability for working with children and/or vulnerable adults as you must be willing to undertake placement practice for the duration of your programme. 

Teaching & Assessment

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered using a range of inclusive and interactive methods that model the values and principles of the sector, these include face-to-face as well as online learning activities, lectures, small group work, individual tutorials and supervision sessions, online and blended learning, guided independent study, and work-based placement activities.

Throughout the duration of the full Youth and Community Work degree programme, you will be involved with 3600 hours of learning (1200 per academic year for a full-time student), this will normally include 800 placement hours in total over three years, and the remaining hours will be distributed between scheduled learning activities and guided personal study.

Typically, taught sessions will be held over two weekdays each trimester, with the remaining days set aside for placement work and/or personal study. There will be a block placement opportunity at Level 5. Assessment methods used across modules will include essays, reflective writing tasks, individual and group presentations, practice-based portfolios, and project reports, research reports.

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our Student Support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

Career prospects

Youth and Community Work employment opportunities can include:

  • Local Authority youth services, such as Flintshire County Council, Wrexham County Council, Denbighshire County Council & Shropshire County Council
  • Integrated Youth Support Services (IYSS)
  • Youth organisations and charities, such as the YMCA, Barnardo's, Youth Cymru, Live! Cheshire, CAIS
  • Schools and Colleges
  • Local community services including, Caia Park Partnership, Young Wrexham, Young Carers, EYST
  • Housing and homelessness service, such as, Shelter Cymru, Centrepoint, LLamau, Foyer Federation
  • Faith based groups
  • Drug and Alcohol services
  • Mental Health services, such as, Mind
  • Sexual health services, such as The Brook
  • Youth Offending Teams (YOTs)
  • The National Health Service (NHS)
  • National Citizen Service

Areas or specialisms of Youth and Community Work can include:

  • Youth clubs
  • Youth Work project management
  • Open access youth work
  • Detached youth work
  • Outreach youth work
  • Residential and outdoor education
  • Working with families, children and young people
  • Learning support
  • dvocacy and young people’s rights
  • Local and national Government
  • Youth homelessness and housing support
  • Hospital Youth Work
  • Youth mental health worker
  • Youth sexual health worker
  • Social enterprise
  • Youth crime/ gang culture
  • CCE and CSE worker
  • Working with children and young people living with disabilities

Upon successful completion of the Youth and Community Work programme, you are equipped to study at postgraduate level, such as the Youth and Community Work PgDip or Master's degree, to further enhance their academic and professional career.

Our Careers & Employability Service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

Your employability will be enhanced by the experience, contacts and opportunities provided by undertaking three fieldwork placements in a number of employing agencies.

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our undergraduate fees.

Accommodation

If you’re looking for a place to stay while you study then take a look at our accommodation pages to get more information on your options, including our on-campus halls of residence Wrexham Village.

Subject to re-validation

As part of its continuous quality assurance and enhancement, the University reviews its courses on a regular basis to ensure that they reflect the needs of students and employers. Periodic review of the existing programmes is required every five years and major changes may be made to the programmes during the re-validation process. As soon as the programmes are re-validated the details of the course will be confirmed. The majority of courses that are still ‘subject to re-validation’ are approved by the validation process; however, this is not guaranteed and should the course not go ahead as planned, or be significantly amended, you will be informed by the university and assistance will be provided to those who have been offered a place to find a suitable alternative course either at Wrexham University or at another provider.