Ceredigion Youth Service has achieved the prestigious Gold Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales.

The Gold Quality Mark of Youth Work in Wales has only been achieved by two other local authority youth services to date.

In 2017, Ceredigion Youth Service was awarded the Bronze Award. At the beginning of 2019, the service progressed in achieving the Silver Quality Mark. Soon after, the service was assessed again and awarded the Gold Award.

Lead assessor and director of Atkin Associates, Louise Atkin, said she was “particularly impressed with the way in which the Youth Service has grown and developed since achieving the Bronze Award in 2017”.

The final report identified that Ceredigion Youth Service offered a high quality youth work offer covering 16 core areas including; Recognising Young People’s Achievement and Progress, Management Information and Partnership and Resources.

The report also highlighted that the "determination and creativity of the Ceredigion Youth Service team puts young people at the centre of what is a vibrant and creative youth service, valued by young people who are supported and challenged to be positive and move forward in their lives".

It also said that there is "very good leadership and management within the service and that partnerships are a particular strength, with assessors experiencing the largest support across Wales from partner services and organisations during their visit meetings. The assessors felt that there is a strong culture of celebrating young people’s achievements in all aspects of the service".

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now