The Boathouse Youth prides itself on being a learning organisation, not only by necessity due to our growth plan, but also by desire as we continually seek to enable young people to lead their best lives.

As an organisation seeking to enable young people to enhance their own personal capabilities through youth work, it’s essential that we attract and secure sufficient funding to develop a workforce of professionals who can co-produce a youth work programme with young people in accessible centres across the Fylde Coast.

The charity is already employing six adults working towards their Level 6 Degree in Youth Work; a further one adult working towards their Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work; and 12 young people currently working towards their Level 2 Award in Youth Work.

We are now proud to announce – on Apprenticeship Week – the next ‘game-changing’ step in our strategic plan. Thanks to collaboration of major-donors, training providers and the Government’s apprenticeship levy we will be employing ten school-leaves from September 2024 on the Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Apprenticeship.

This means that in 18 months time, Blackpool will have ten fully-qualified Youth Support Workers enhancing the availability and quality of effective provision across the Fylde Coast.

The ten young people, all currently Year 11 students, will start their training once they complete school in a unique partnership between The Boathouse Youth and national training provider B-Skill. The cost of the training is being provided by the government’s apprenticeship levy, whilst the cost of employment for the 10 youngsters (who will be paid an elevated hourly wage) has been provided in full by a major donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

During the employment of the apprentices, they will form part of our team of Young Professionals and participate in the day-to-day running of the organisation including the places where significant decisions are being made.