In our critical post, Which Experts Inform the Institute of Youth Work Proposal, we expressed our concern that the names of those lending their expertise to the development of CATALYST’s pro-market strategy remained a mystery. We are pleased to say that this information has finally entered the public domain.

The rationale and terms of reference of the groups is to be found here on the NYA site.

We are told:

The National Youth Agency, through its work with the Catalyst consortium, has established two Support and Challenge Groups to act as independent advisers to the work being undertaken.

The role of the representatives on both the Workforce Strand Support and Challenge Group and the Institute of Youth Work Support and Challenge Group is to inform strategic and project plans, ensuring that the needs and priorities of the youth sector are taken into account.

It remains unclear as to how the Groups were established, but their make-up is as follows:

Institute of Youth Work Support and Challenge Group

Gill Millar (Chair) – Representing Regional Youth Work Advisors

Cheryl Garvey – BAYC

Alison Talheath – Representing ADCS

David Wright – Representing CHYPS

Ian Richards – Representing CYWU Unite

Marcus Isman Eagle – Independent contributor

Jon Jolly – Independent contributor

Steven Peck – Independent contributor

Kevin Ford – Independent contributor

David Howell – Independent contributor

Workforce Strand Support and Challenge Group

Tim Cooper (Chair) – Representing Groundwork UK

Keith Mogford – Representing Skills Third Sector

Sue Gill – Representing LSIS

John Thompson/Chris Hutchings – Representing DfE

Victoria Jones – Warwickshire Children and Voluntary Youth Services

Rebecca Edwards – Children England

Mike Counsell – Representing ETS

Andy Peaden & Sam Martin – Representing ADCS

Mary Kenny – Representing Regional Youth Work Advisors

Richard Davies – Representing PALYCW (formerly TAG)

Jane Bryant- Artswork

Carol Aspden/David Wright – Representing CHYPS

We are informed too that, amongst other things, the groups are:

To act as a conduit for communication between Catalyst and key employers and stakeholders in the youth work sector;

We must confess to being unsure anymore, who counts as a stakeholder, but hope that this means that these ‘independent advisers’ will make their voices heard across the field of youth work and will be able to resolve the contradictions inherent in their terms of reference, namely:

8.3 To support and actively promote consultation arising out of the programme across the youth work sector

8.4 To assist, promote and champion activities within the Institute for Youth Work project work plan or within the workforce strand work plan, and wider Catalyst workforce activities where appropriate;

Can you champion activities, you are being asked to question and challenge?

 To repeat, we’re glad this out in the open and look forward to hearing from members of the support and challenge groups as they report back to their constituencies, where appropriate, or in the case of individual contributors let us all know what’s going on.