Supporting students to transform youth work

Generous bursaries for master’s degree students at the University of Teesside are helping to transform youth work in the North East and Yorkshire.

The University has invested over £64,000 to help students on the MSc Youth Work and Community Development programme.

Since 2006, 27 students have benefited from the University’s Bursary Scheme. The bursary covers about two thirds of the cost of the master’s degree programme.

The course is validated by the National Youth Agency and covers a variety of modules including youth work, community development and history, ethics and management. Students also have the opportunity to gain fieldwork experience.

Amanda Gledhill, from Easingwold in North Yorkshire, completed her master’s degree this year. She works as a Youth and Community Worker with North Yorkshire County Council and said: ‘I am passionate about youth work and want to make things better for young people and communities.

‘Teesside was ideal for me. It valued my wide range of experience as a practising youth worker and the diversity of the group was fantastic.

‘I loved the course. The ‘lightbulb’ moments were great – when I put social theory into the context of my own job. I really enjoyed looking back at the history of youth work and understanding and relating it to my own modern practice.’

Jonathan Roberts, Principal Lecturer, said: ‘There is a national shortage of professionally qualified staff and university courses that work closely with local employers are key to changing the effectiveness of youth work delivery. Our bursaries have been a really practical way for the University to show its commitment to young people.

‘Youth workers keep a delicate balance between their accountability to society and the autonomy and best interests of a young person, who chooses to work with them to seek empowerment and support as they make their transition to adult life.

‘Better thought through youth work means better outcomes for young people, which is why our students are trying to transform youth work in the North East and Yorkshire.’

There will be more bursaries available for the programme which starts in October. For more information, contact 01642 342308.

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