Invitation to Tender:

Curriculum design for accelerated leadership development programme

UK Youth is looking to partner with an organisation or consultant who can support the design of a curriculum for a groundbreaking programme that seeks to inspire a new generation of youth work leaders through a pioneering accelerated leadership development programme. We’re following in the footsteps of a number of successful high potential recruitment programmes in connected sectors (e.g. Teach First, Frontline, Unlocked), and will be seeking funding to scale the programme following evaluation.

This programme will transform the pipeline, diversity and calibre of leaders in the youth sector, in order to safeguard the development and wellbeing of millions of young people across the country,

tackling the national youth worker shortage
improving equity and diversity in youth sector leadership
supporting cross-sector collaboration and systems change
increasing the profile of youth work as an attractive career pathway
developing new skills to better meet the needs of young people
and increasing the retention of youth work leaders and sustainability of organisations.

We’re launching the concept in November 2024 with our first cohort of 50 people starting in Spring/ Summer 2025 across 2 locations in the UK.

This 2 year programme will incorporate on the job training through 2 placements, accelerated blended learning in 3 curriculum strands. It will include a salary, coaching support and access to an ambassador network.

The 3 core strands are (see appendix for further details): Youth Work principles and practice (with access to PG Dip Youth Work); Systems Leadership and Operational Excellence.

A university partner will deliver youth work standards and practice to their own accreditation. We’re looking for a partner to co-ordinate the curriculum design across all these strands and potentially develop some of the content where we have gaps.

This programme will provide a vital solution to the youth sector workforce challenges, helping to overcome recruitment gaps and providing more pathways into youth work by

Addressing the national youth worker shortage
Improving equity and diversity in youth sector leadership
Supporting cross-sector collaboration and systems change
Increasing the profile of youth work as an attractive career pathway
Developing new skills to better meet the needs of young people
Increasing the retention of youth work leaders and sustainability of organisations

What’s the problem we’re trying to solve?

Youth work is critical to helping young people navigate challenging times but only a third are currently able to access it.
There have been extensive funding cuts to youth work over the past decade. This has impacted capacity and limited investment in recruitment, retention, and training across the workforce.
- The Government’s Youth Workforce strategy states we need 10,000 qualified Youth Workers (3,000 at levels 6 & 7, and 7,000 at Level 3 per year within 10 years) to address recruitment crisis
High workloads, reduced resources and limited support structures are resulting in increasingly stressed and isolated workforces, adding further fuel to the issue.
There is a need for new leadership skills and profile in the youth sector in order to sustain youth work and support young people from diverse backgrounds.

We have a Q&A session on Thursday 3rd October at 11.30am for anyone who would like further information or to ask questions. Book now (Meeting Registration – Zoom) Recordings will be shared on request.

All responses must be received by Monday 14th October at 5pm- please email Nemmy.Johnston@ukyouth.org and Kayleigh.Wainwright@ukyouth.org

Timetable of work

Thursday 3rd October – 11.30am – Optional Q&A
Monday 14th October 5pm: Deadline for submission of responses
W/c Monday 14th October: clarifications/questions and shortlisting
W/c 21st – 25th October: pitch meetings
W/c 28th October: further discussion, decision made, contracts drawn & work starts dependent on availability
Early November – October – January dates TBC: work carried out

What is our goal?

To transform the pipeline, diversity and calibre of leaders in the youth sector, in order to safeguard the development and wellbeing of millions of young people across the country.

What is our proposed approach to tackle the problem?

Building on the success of high potential recruitment programmes in other areas -we’re transforming the lives of young people by inspiring a new generation of youth work leaders though a pioneering accelerated leadership development programme that will attract a new pipeline of talented youth work leaders to transform services and change the lives of young people.
Particular focus on building equity– this is a 2 year programme that incorporates on the job training through 2 placements, accelerated blended learning in Youth Work principles and practice (with access to a Postgraduate Diploma in Youth Work), Systems Leadership and Operational Excellence – includes a salary, coaching support and access to an ambassador network.

What’s the overall longer term ambition?

Overview and background

UK Youth is a leading charity that exists to ensure all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives.

We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened, supported, and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed and delivers high-quality outcomes.

UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing; the lack of investment into the youth sector, the lack of cross sector understanding of how youth work makes a difference and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people.

At UK Youth we believe in the potential of young people and the power of youth work to positively transform the lives of young people for the better. We want to work towards a society that, understands, champions, and delivers effective youth work for all.

This programme has been co-designed to date with young people, youth workers and experts in workforce development following a period of insights and evidence gathering. We’re pleased to be working in partnership with Onside Youth Zones, Blenheim Chalcott and National Youth Agency on the programme and we’re currently in the process of identifying and securing additional partners.

For further information into the wider context see links to recent reports:

For every £1 government invests in youth work, the benefit to the taxpayer is between £3.20 and £6.40. #Untapped
Long term impacts of youth work commissioned by DCMS (happy, healthier, wealthier)
The importance of investing in prevention IGS research

Outputs/deliverables

Overall we’re looking for support to define:

What the programme outcomes are
What the participant outcomes are
What participants need to know and be able to do to achieve those outcomes
How those knowledge, skills and behaviours map against our delivery model and mechanisms
And how we introduce, revisit and embed topics over time through theory, practice and reflection

The following outputs will be required:
Product/Output	Purpose	Deliverable(s)	Phasing/Deadline
Programme & participant level outcomes (e.g. the impact framework)	To inform our ambitions for the two-year Youth First pilot, informing design, evaluation, comms and external engagement (incl. income generation)	Refined Impact Framework –(building from current draft) including indicators that lead to our outcomes	1 week’s work By mid-end November
User journeys (What we want people to think, feel and do at the different touchpoints we’ve identified) How that links to the systems, infrastructure needed Any gaps and questions we need to answer in design/mobilisation too	To build from current work completed, to help lead the wider project management around key policies; systems and processes; toolkits and support offers needed to mobilisation of the programme	A participant – people with drive, passion, resilience and energy and a commitment to changing the system with and for young people – likely to come from three core areas – young leaders (those with experience of youth work; graduates and career changers A placement provider – would be matched with participants; hire them and then offer different roles in Year 1 and Year 2. They work with young people, and most likely delivers youth work and services but not limited to (could be education provider with youth work provision A Supervisor – experienced youth workers and leaders who are looking to build on existing experience to deliver supervision, mentoring and coaching support	1 week By mid-end of November
Curriculum framework (e.g. what participants need to know and be able to do – knowledge and skills – in order to achieve programme outcomes)	To map backwards the required knowledge and skills to achieve those based on the three programme strands & meets academic partners requirements for accreditation	Framework that maps onto the programme outcomes; the three areas of focus (see current thinking in Appendices below) (by October	Max 1 week December 2024
Curriculum map/Scheme of work/Delivery model (e.g. how curriculum framework is broken down into modules, how modules are sequenced, introduced and revisited through the formal training, coaching, project)	To determine how topics are introduced, embedded, reflected and reviewed. providing a seamless and cohesive (non-duplicative) participant experience To support overarching mobilisation and logistical planning for residentials, recruitment and assessment centres and managing expectations with placement providers and partners to then create content	Model that connects to the specific user journeys include specific roles of key stakeholders (ie. University partner; UK Youth, host organisation) (e.g. what’s formal training, what’s included in coaching, what’s part of the impact initiative?).	1.5 weeks By mid January 2025

Potential extension task: We would also be interested in exploring with someone the potential for them to support our latest UKY assessment and selection criteria design to review, feedback and testing/further development to connect with the curriculum framework. Nb. We will want the university to assess the youth work standards strand as per their own process and an awarding body but will need to use the curriculum framework that meet principles and objectives of the programme

Contract management

We expect work to take place from October – until approx mid January, with the exact timeline to be discussed in pitch meetings and agreed upon in partnership.

The anticipated budget is approx. 23k (inclusive of VAT).

The payment schedule will be:

£10k upon signature of the contract from both sides
The balance upon deliverables received in Mid-January

The contract will be managed on a day-to-day basis for UK Youth by Kayleigh Wainwright. The project will be accountable to the internal Strategy Group.

Award criteria

In your proposal, we are primarily interested to hear about your organisation’s track record of creating blended learning curriculums to diverse audiences (essential).

Futhermore, we are interested in your track record of working with academic partners, alongside other training partners (desirable).

Proposals for undertaking the work should include:

Suggested methodology for the work;
An outline of staff allocation to complete the work, including experience and qualifications of key staff members in carrying out similar projects, a project manager/lead contact and charging rates for staff involved;– e.g. pen portraits/high level CV
Your timeline for the project including earliest start date;
Case studies and referees for similar work;
Overall cost for the work.

Proposals will be considered against the following criteria:

To what extent does the proposal demonstrate an understanding of what we are trying to achieve?
To what extent does the proposal meet the requirements set out in this brief?
What degree of experience does the bidder demonstrate in the proposal in order to successfully complete the work?
How well has the bidder structured a team in order to successfully manage the contract and deliver the required work to the budget and timetable required?
To what extent does the proposal provide value for money against the budget required to ensure good investment of limited charity resources?

Other information

Impact framework

Methodology

The Programme will include a variety of elements and the curriculum will need to consider blended learning and support approach that is inclusive and engaging to support a positive experience for the participants.

We’ve provided further detail of who we’re looking for as the participants but we’re aware that our focus on creating equitable access and a breadth of entry avenues – will need to be accounted for in the curriculum design to ensure it is accessible for all and holds diversity of experience and profile within it

We currently have the below design agreed to date – we have budget and have planned for the first orange row & the 2 year long placements being the specific face to face work. You’ll see below there are a number of different methodologies we’re looking to use as part of this programme.

Summary of the Programme and core elements that the curriculum needs to meet:

For further detail we’re looking for the curriculum to cover 3 core areas across the 2 years as well as ensure participants can apply they’re learning through 2 placements.

Youth Work Principles and Practice (Nb, Content for this area will be provided by University partners as part of the Post Graduate Diploma Level 7, primarily a focus for year 1)

Critical perspectives in Youth Work
Promoting Inclusive Practise
Introduction to Childhood, Youth & Families
Promoting Children & Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing
Advocacy and activism: Children & Young People’s Rights
Research Methods
Places and Spaces: Geographies of Childhood & Youth
Empowering & therapeutic approaches to working with young people
Outdoor Learning practise

Systems Leadership (primarily a focus for year 2, elements in year 1)

Understanding systems change
Authentic and empathetic leadership
Understanding your why
Social Justice & Equity
Diversity & Pluralism
Innovation, Leadership & management in work based learning with young people
Global perspectives in practise
The importance of wellbeing for you and your team
Learning to influence
Collaborative working with allied professionals in other sectors (e.g. education; mental health)
Systems change and the context of the system around young people (including political education)

Operational Excellence (primarily a focus for year 2, elements in year 1)

Organisational Development
Effective finance and governance
User centred design of services
Risk management
Effective people and project management
Effective Intervention, Safeguarding and Integrated working in C&YP Services
Digital and AI
Income generation and fundraising

(Nb. These modules might be subject to prioritisation or change based on development and would welcome your expertise. We’re exploring opportunities with corporate partners to provide content support too)

Further information about the type of people who we’re looking to be a part of the programme

We’re looking to attract individuals who want to make a difference to the lives of young people and take an active role in transforming communities. They will show drive, passion, resilience and energy and a commitment to changing the system with and for young people.

They might be

Young people with experience of youth work/ young leaders who haven’t thought about youth work as a career pathway previously. Can demonstrate previous experience and knowledge.
Graduates with an existing degree who are looking to transfer their skills and progress into youth work.
Those who have experience in a different sector who want to change their pathway and use their skills and experience to work with young people.

Some of the key attributes we’re looking for participants to demonstrate
Values	Behaviours
Excellence	Reflective: Able to self-assess and set targets for improvement Driven: Remains committed to improving the lives of young people Strategic planning: Able to identify the bigger picture, set long term goals and prioritise and plan
Curiosity	Critical thinking: Able to approach problems intellectually and analytically and to manage challenging situations Solution focussed: Always looks to solve problems and move forwards
Community	Collaborative: Willing to work with others and able to build relationships with a range of stakeholders Communicative: Able to engage with a range of stakeholders, including young people
Inclusive	Empathetic: Able to understand the needs of young people and youth workers with a range of backgrounds Values driven: Able to show their passion for working with young people with a range of needs
Courage	Decisive: Able to make decisions, even when under pressure, and be confident in following them through Resilience and grit: Able to pursue goals, even in challenging circumstances

Procurement process

For procurement timeline, please see TIMETABLE OF WORK above. We have a Q&A session on Thursday 3rd October at 11.30am for anyone who would like further information or to ask questions. Recordings will be shared on request.