Become a member

Good youth work works. It turns young people into great adults. We believe there is no better way to practice youth work than through neighbourhood youth clubs which are safe, trusted and fun places that young people choose to go to.

We are committed to supporting the extraordinary contribution of our 400 community-based youth organisations across the capital, and to advocating on their behalf in order to ensure that their experiences at the grassroots level are acknowledged by key decision-makers and funders.

What's in it for you?

London Youth has two levels of membership. We have members and accredited members. There are many benefits of becoming a member, and further benefits made available to you once you become accredited.

Members

In your first year, in order to work towards accredited membership, you will be offered a supported package to achieve the London Youth Quality Mark. We run the only City and Guilds accredited quality assurance scheme developed specifically to ensure the high standards of community-based youth organisations. In achieving a level of the quality mark you will gain a public recognition of your achievements that can be used to promote your work to funders, local authorities, the local community, families and, of course, the young people themselves.

The process to obtain the Quality Mark includes:

• Face to face support from London Youth’s Quality Standards team with personalised assessment deadlines
• Ongoing feedback and templates for producing evidence
• Support sessions with other youth clubs working towards the Quality Mark and a youth worker buddying scheme where useful
• A bank of volunteer assessors and supporters to help small clubs with their evidence gathering

As a member of London Youth you will have access to the following:

News in the City- A weekly email bulletin for all members covering a wide variety of opportunities which are happening now across London. This includes information on funding, jobs, opportunities for young people, training, consultations and events. To sign up please email emma.kosmin@londonyouth.org.uk who will add you to the mailing list once your membership has been verified. 

Insurance- We have negotiated access to a competitive package of Public and Employers Liability Insurance cover for member clubs. The insurance cover is only available to voluntary organisations running regular youth sessions for young people aged 8-25.

Training- Members are entitled to large discounts on London Youth training and courses. Our Training team deliver a comprehensive ABC accredited training programme covering national youth work qualifications and a range of specialist short courses is available for staff, management committee members and young people to help develop the skills, knowledge and confidence of those involved in youth work. Bursaries are available to those who would otherwise not be able to take up their training place.

Basic members also have AGM voting rights (and other constitutional rights and responsibilities).

Accredited members

On successful completion of achieving a level of the Quality Mark you will become an accredited member and will have access to the following London Youth benefits, in addition to the benefits of the basic member package: 

Partnership programmes- We deliver a wide variety of programmes in partnership with our accredited members, in order to strengthen their offer to young people covering areas such as youth action and youth leadership, tackling youth crime, sports development, pan-London sports championships, peer mentoring, inter-generational work and environmental projects as well as any new or emerging projects.

Residential Centres- Accredited members enjoy the privilege of subsidised access to our residential centres: Hindleap Warren in the Ashdown Forest, Sussex and Woodrow High House near Amersham. Both centres can provide bespoke residential courses over a day, a weekend or week with an activity programme tailored to suit your group's unique needs and specific aims. Activities on offer include (but are not limited to!) a high ropes course, canoeing, zip wire, obstacle courses, archery, orienteering, swimming, team-building exercises, bushcraft, arts and crafts, pond dipping, rock climbing, abseiling....

Accredited members also gain access to the resources and services offered by our national agencies including Ambition and UK Youth, as well as opportunities to sub-contract with London Youth or act as formal project partners.

Accredited members are entitled to the use of City & Guilds branding and London Youth logo.

The small print 

To become a member of London Youth, your organisation must:

• Operate within a London Borough
• Be a group working directly with young people on a regular basis
• Have a regular membership of at least 12 young people aged 8-25 years
• Have a unit based application
• Have a separate bank account with approved financial statement
• Operate with an effective management committee (or equivalent)
• Have a written Constitution (or equivalent)
• Have key policies in place i.e. Equal Opportunities, Child Protection, Health & Safety
• Have adequate and appropriate Employers and Public Liability Insurance cover

Please note that the following types of groups are not eligible for membership: Residential Centres, Commercial Enterprises, Formal Education Organisations, Probation Services, Umbrella Organisations, Borough Wide Youth Services, and Political Organisations.

Welcome to London Youth!

Please download our application pack where you will find the necessary information and forms. Send completed applications to London Youth to our Pitfield Street office, marking them clearly with 'Membership Application’.

For more information about joining London Youth please contact us on 020 7549 8800 or email hello@londonyouth.org.uk.