Youth Scotland offers a wide range of continuous professional learning and training for youth workers, volunteers and leaders. The Professional Development Award (PDA) in Youth Work is the second step on Youth Scotland’s Accredited Learning Pathway.
In this case study Dale, an Instructor at Helm Training in Dundee, reflects on his youth work journey and the impact of his experience on the PDA across Autumn and Winter 2024.
Helm training supports young people aged 15 to 25 from across Tayside to move into and maintain employment through providing qualifications, hands on vocational training, work placements, and wrap around support.
My job is essentially to aid these young people to get qualifications and give them the skills necessary to do okay in life. And I… believe that youth work is a huge, huge part of that. Huge part of like the of the success of a young person. I wanted theory, background, like more of a knowledge base on what I’m doing and what the outcomes I’m working towards are and… to really have a foundation to my practice.
Dale, Instructor at Helm Training in Dundee
Youth Scotland offers a wide range of continuous professional learning and training for youth workers, volunteers and leaders. The Professional Development Award (PDA) in Youth Work is the second step on Youth Scotland’s Accredited Learning Pathway.
The course has three units: Understanding and Exploring Youth Work; Engaging with Young People; and Delivering Youth Work. It is delivered in 6 training days and over 4 months, with three assessments and a practical placement and observation.
It is an SCQF Level 6 Qualification.
Dale found about the PDA through Helm Training, as they are members of Youth Scotland. He felt strongly that taking part in the training would improve the offer to young people.
Dale learnt a lot during the course, from youth work theory to new games and icebreakers. The course also supported him to think about how to make youth work more inclusive and accessible.
Also making games inclusive... so for example in the PDA, there'd be games where it's communication based and we'd have to plan how we were going to do it so that we can involve everyone. And so that's been something that's always in the back of my mind as well when I'm doing stuff in Helm is like, make sure that this is okay for everyone to do without singling people out.
Dale, Instructor at Helm Training in Dundee
Click the link below to read the full case study on professional development in youth work.