The 2009 NCVYS Annual Conference, will explore positive approaches to dealing with the current state of flux in our social, political and economic environments - all of which have an impact on young people. Nowmore than ever, young people need to be resilient and supported to cope with.

The conference will explore how organisations can support young people by promoting social inclusiveness, choice and generate financial stability through looking at routes to support and success, both for young people and voluntary and community organisations working with them.

An exciting line up of speakers, including academic specialists and sector leaders will offer insight on how innovative practice and established success within the sector can gain maximum outcome from limited resources and encourage a culture of self-help by empowering our young people during challenging times.

Seminar Options

Seminar 1: The reality of rights for young people after 20 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE)

20 November 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This seminar will consider some of the major landmarks in children’s rights over the last 20 years (in education, health, social care, criminal justice, and participation) and what this means for young people in the day-to-day reality of their lives. The seminar will be hosted by Sam Dimmock, CRAE’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs and will help to address issues for and build resilience in young people by:

· Giving young people and practitioners an understanding of human rights and rights-based approaches

· Showing where and how children’s rights are relevant to young people’s lives

· Enabling practitioners and policy makers to use their knowledge of rights to support young people to exercise their rights

Seminar 2: Resilience & Resourcefulness – Creating Flourishing Youth Provision

As an applied positive psychology, evidence-based coaching has been shown to increase levels of resilience, well-being, hope and attainment of goals for young people. Clive Leach is an evidence-based executive and organisational coach working regularly within the Australian Public Service. As an ex-Head of Youth Services in London, Clive is uniquely placed to recognise how coaching research can be applied within and add value to the existing youth work skills set. This seminar will reflect upon research findings and the outcomes of practical applications within formal and non-formal learning contexts in Australia. It will consider how evidence-based coaching activity can enhance the well-being of young people and also those who support them by exploring the role of coaching in youth workforce development and third sector capacity building. The seminar will be informative, practical and provide some take away tips that can help youth provision to flourish.

Seminar 3: Innovation- the key to delivering successful young people’s education, training and employability programmes? – The Prince’s Trust

With youth unemployment at a record high and young people facing increasing pressure to stay in education and training longer, the sector plays a key role in delivering training and employment programmes. In this interactive seminar, Nikki Wade, Acting Head of the Prince’s Trust’s Innovation Team will explore with delegates the importance of innovation and its potential to yield success and share examples of their practice, the challenges faced and the benefits innovation and collaboration brings. Millions of pounds are being spent by Government on a raft of initiatives and grant schemes in this area and the seminar will provide an opportunity to reflect on whether these are effective in supporting our young people.

Seminar 4: Someone to talk to, someone to listen – Young Devon

This seminar will be led by Keith Coulston, Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Development Manager at Young Devon who will focus on ways in which voluntary youth organisations and workers can support the mental health & emotional well being of young people. The seminar will consider Young Devon’s services & approach to supporting the mental health & emotional well being of young people in Devon. It will also outline Clubs for Young People’s national project that aims to enhance members' (voluntary youth clubs) support to the mental health and emotional well being of young people who access their services. It will provide participants with an opportunity to share different models of support to the mental health and emotional well being of young people and discuss ways in which they can be improved.

Cancellations and Substitute Delegates

All cancellations should be made a minimum of one week in advance. This will incur a fee of 50% of the cost. Any cancellations after this time will incur the full cost of attendance to cover delegate expenses. Any requests for a colleague to attend on your behalf must be made by email to annualconference@ncvys.org.uk no less than one week in advance.