Community and Youth Work

School of Applied Social Sciences

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES FOR PRACTITIONERS WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE

“The mix of theory and practice is excellent and I have made connections through classmates and at my placement�

Community and Youth Work at Durham Community and Youth Work uses informal and social education to enable people to become more active participants in the decisions that affect their lives. It involves working towards personal and social change by breaking down barriers to participation in society, particularly discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, class, disability, age, sexual orientation or religion.

Internationally-Recognised Expertise Durham University offers a thriving centre for professional development in Community and Youth Work that is internationally recognised for the quality of teaching and research.

Programme staff are active in international and national research and publication, with influential links with policy-making and professional practice. Postgraduate students have come from and/or gone on to develop innovative work in a wide range of national and international settings, having learnt from each other on the programme. These settings have included the UK, Ireland, Canada, USA, Palestine, Italy, Malaysia, The Philippines, South Africa, Cyprus, and Spain.

Creating World Class Leaders Outstanding professional development opportunities are offered for a range of related professions working with children, young people, and surrounding communities. Past students have come from and progressed into a wide variety of roles, including working as Managers in Voluntary Sector/Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Youth Workers, workers with global International Development organisations, Youth Offending Team Officers, Community Development Workers, Social Pedagogues, workers with Young Carers, Teenage Pregnancy Workers, Children’s Services Managers, Community

“I have developed in confidence and skill in my current role�

Project Managers, Participation and Engagement workers, Youth Homeless Service Managers, Migrant/Refugee Integration Workers and Youth Policy Advisors.

Support For Your Career Development Many of our previous students have found that a postgraduate qualification from Durham University has enhanced their careers, helping them to get promotions or move into new fields with confidence, inspiration and improved skills. The MA Community and Youth Work programme is recognised as professionally validated by the National Youth Agency on behalf of the Joint Negotiating Committee.

Research-Based Practice Development In changing policy contexts, Durham University’s programmes offer an ideal way to develop theory and practice which can sustain your work in ways that are critically informed by longstanding professional value commitments. Lectures and seminars enable you to access the latest research findings and explore the implications for your own practice. The professionally-qualifying programme includes supported placements for developing your own practice. Programmes also include optional opportunities to consider sport or faith-related work, and/or to undertake research in your own context.

Multi-Disciplinary Connections By working alongside Social Work, Social Policy, Criminology and Sport in the School of Applied Social Sciences, teaching is informed by research from a diverse range of related academic disciplines. Staff have also played a leading role in developing the multidisciplinary Centre for Social Justice and Community Action. Students benefit from the excellent opportunities that this provides for developing and exchanging learning across these related academic and professional settings.

About the programmes MA Community and Youth Work This programme is ideal for those who are already practising or want to practise in the community and youth work field but do not yet have a professional qualification. This programme is professionally validated by the National Youth Agency (with JNC recognition) and combines academic study with professional practice development in two fieldwork placements. One period of fieldwork can be undertaken in students’ current places of employment, if appropriate. For those interested in specialising in a theme such as Sport, Faith or Creativity, there are opportunities to undertake focused study, fieldwork practice and research in these areas.

MA/PG Dip/PG Cert Managing Community Practice MA/PG Dip/PG Cert Managing Youth Work Practice These programmes are designed for a range of professionals whose role includes engaging with communities, and/or young people who wish to undertake related advanced study. They are ideal for those wishing to develop their understanding of the management of this work at a postgraduate level, especially for those who already have (or do not require) a professional qualification in Community and Youth Work. This might include those practising in the fields of social enterprise, community development, charity management, community health, community arts and professionals in a range of statutory and voluntary sector posts that have an element of community involvement and engagement.

NEW: MA International Social Work and Community Development This advanced programme offers international students an opportunity to compare and learn from differences in social work and community development practice between their country and the UK.

Other related degrees The School of Applied Social Sciences also offers a variety of other programmes, including an MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice programme, a range of MA Social Research Methods programmes, and a professionally-qualifying MSW Social Work programme for those who wish to practice in the UK. We also offer research degrees at MPhil and PhD level for those who wish to pursue independent supervised research.

“An amazing experience!”

“A life-changing move!”

Flexible Study Options All programmes in Community and Youth Work can be taken either full time or part time.

Taught sessions are arranged so that students taking one of these programmes on a part time basis can do these sessions by being released from any employment they may have for one day per week.

Short courses for continuing professional development: If you would like to engage in continuing professional development without doing a full postgraduate programme, why not consider taking one of our modules as a short ‘Continuing Professional Development’ course? We offer a wide range of options, including:

‘Supervision in Community Settings’, ‘Management in Community Settings’, ‘Community Policy and Practice’, ‘Youth Policy and Practice’, ‘Policy-Related and Evaluation Research’ and ‘Practitioner Research’.

Full details on all of these programmes are available at: www.durham.ac.uk/sass/cayw

“The staff of this programme were considerate and took time to listen to you and this helped with being able to approach them with issues” Staff with internationally-recognised expertise Sarah Banks teaches community development, research methods and professional development. Research interests include: professional ethics, neighbourhood regeneration, rural youth and community work, European and international comparative research. Recent books include: ‘Ethical Issues in Youth Work’, ‘Managing Community Practice’; ‘Critical Community Practice’; ‘Ethics, Accountability and the Social Professions’; ‘Ethics in Professional Life’.

Tony Jeffs teaches youth policy and practice and professional development. He is on the editorial board of ‘Youth and Policy’ journal and has published widely on youth work.

Anne Marron co-ordinates fieldwork practice and teaches professional development and theory and practice of supervision. She has practice interests in: group work, antioppressive practice, young people’s rights and responsibilities, single gender work, and domestic and sexual violence.

Andrew Orton teaches management in community settings. His research interests focus on exploring different understandings of ‘good practice’ in community and youth work, particularly in Christian contexts. He has led recent research projects on ‘Building Migrants’ Belonging through Positive Interaction’ (with the Council of Europe) and ‘Good Practice in Diaconal Ministry’ (with the Methodist Church of Great Britain).

The MA International Social Work and Community Development programme includes input from other leading international scholars including Lena Dominelli, Vasilios Ioakimidis and Helen Charnley.

“Inspiring, satisfying and an excellent experience” Typical entry requirements for taught programmes Upper second class honours degree or equivalent. Applicants with substantial professional experience may be admitted by concession without an upper second class honours degree, providing that they have demonstrated an ability to undertake Masters-level work. (This ability could be shown, for example, by completing a short course at an appropriate level.)

For the MA Community and Youth Work, applicants need to pass an interview and at least one year’s full-time practice experience in community and youth work or a related field (or part-time equivalent) is also required.

Admission is subject to satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Records check being undertaken upon an offer of a place being made, to assess whether applicants have any previous convictions that prevent them from working with vulnerable people.

International students may also need to meet other requirements such as proving their English language proficiency; see www.durham.ac.uk/international/prospectivestudents/

“Interesting, challenging, excellent tutors, a good opportunity to meet others working in the field. I have already told a friend (who is 40 something like me) not to be fearful of returning to learning.

Pre-admission is very thorough. If you are offered a place, believe in yourself and you will get all the support you need.”

For further information and applications To apply online or find out more about the programmes available in the School of Applied Social Sciences, including to hear further student perspectives on the programmes and current news, please visit the following website: www.durham.ac.uk/sass/cayw For information on tuition fees and sources of support, see www.durham.ac.uk/postgraduate/finance Community and Youth Work School of Applied Social Sciences Durham University 29 Old Elvet Durham DH1 3HN United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)191 334 1505 Fax: +44 (0)191 334 6821 sass.pgadmissions@durham.ac.uk Additional general information about postgraduate study at Durham University can be found at: www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate

Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate at the time of going to press in February 2014. However, changes may occur and Durham University reserves the right to amend or change any information contained in this brochure at any time.

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(All quotes are from a range of previous UK and international students on these programmes)