National Youth Agency

Our vision is focused on young people. We believe all young people should have the confidence and skills they need to live, learn, work and achieve. Young people are our future. Society needs their spark and energy to make it tick. They have the power to make the world a better place for us all. Our mission is to unlock young people’s potential by providing high quality support and opportunities. NYA has been transforming lives through youth work for 50 years. We are the national body for youth work. Skilled youth workers build relationships that support young people to explore their personal, social and educational development. Youth work enables young people to develop their voice, influence and place within society. Our work comprises three key elements: Championing youth work in all its many forms: showcasing great practice, incubating new approaches, celebrating its many thousands of practitioners and winning more understanding of the value and depth of the discipline among policy-makers, educators and employers. Professionalising youth work: training youth workers, setting occupational standards, offering accreditation for professional development and constantly researching, innovating and improving the methodologies and practice of youth work in all its forms Enabling youth work: making it happen through our networks of front line youth work providers, our deep experience of managing complex projects and through innovative tie-ups and funding arrangements with imaginative commercial and public sector partners.