Training has an important role in enabling those working with young people to develop the skills and confidence to incorporate sustainable development issues into their work. There are a number of training initiatives available (detailed below), provided by organisations in this sector, but sustainable development is not yet included as a core element of the youth work training curriculum.

Some training institutions do offer sustainable development, global and environmental youth work as optional modules within their youth and community work courses. Details of these can be found on the National Youth Agency's website.

Opportunities for training

Introduction to Global Youth Work (DEA)

This three-day residential training course is designed for project workers and face-to-face youth workers, paid and unpaid, who are new to global youth work and aged 18 and over. It is practice-orientated and uses interactive learning techniques. There is also the option for Open College Network accreditation of learning at level three.

The course covers five core units:

This course is offered by the DEA in England, by the Centre for Global Education Belfast, (formerly One World Centre) in Northern Ireland, and is being adapted for use in Wales by the development education umbrella organisation Cyfanfyd.

Introduction to Environmental Youth Work (Environmental Trainers Network)

This one-day course is aimed at environmental professionals, community development personnel and youth workers who are new to, or have limited experience of, the world of environmental youth work. It examines what motivates young people outside the formal education system and how to involve them in environmental activities and initiatives such as Agenda 21. It considers a number of approaches including working partnerships between environmental and youth organisations.

This course is offered by the Environmental Trainers Network, who also offer a course on taking environmental youth work further.

Education for Sustainability (South Bank University)

This one-year full-time or part-time flexible learning course can lead to an MSc in Education for Sustainability. The course is designed for educators and covers up to eight units including an introduction to environmental and development education, and values and participation - focus on adult, youth and community education.

For further infomation visit www.lsbu.ac.uk/efs

Other courses

The Community Development Foundation offers several courses with a focus on communities and sustainable development.

Losehill Hall deliver a range of one-to-three day courses including environmental community action and ESD.