staffordshire council of voluntary youth services

Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS) was established in the early 1980's to meet the needs of young people by strengthening and supporting the work of its member organisations.  There are now over 90 organisations in membership of SCVYS, delivering youth work through over 900 outlets to 35,000 young people in Staffordshire.

SCVYS aims to help voluntary youth groups to advance the education, social development and empowement of children and young people so they can develop their full potential as responsible adults.  SCVYS also promotes the aims of Every Child Matters : Being Healthy, Staying Safe, Enjoying and Achieving, Making a Positive Contribution, Economic Well-Being. 

Full membership of SCVYS is open to voluntary youth organisations that are primarily concerned with informal learning that leads directly to the personal and social development of young people.  The criteria for membership are: 

1. Self governing organisations that have have been in existence for one year and have audited or independently examined statements of accounts and which subscribe to the aims of SCVYS. (Organsiations in existence for less than 12 months can become Associate Members).

2. Youth sections of other voluntary agencies which subscribe to the aims of SCVYS.

3. An individual voluntary youth club or group that is not affiliated to a county organisation, which has been in existence for one year, and has audited or independently examined statement of acounts, and which subscribes to the aims of SCVYS.

Associate Membership of SCVYS is open to organisations which are concerned about young people,  but which are not eligible for Full Membership.  Associate Members receive the same benefits as Full Members, except they only have one representative and no vote at council meetings.

Single activity groups must demonstrate their support of the values of Youth Work.  They also need to demonstrate they have a programme in place which enables progression in personal and social development, such as a national scheme or curriculum, access to Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, junior coaching awards or offer opportunities for Millennium Volunteers/Sports Volunteer accredited schemes.

Subscription rates per annum are £10 for individual clubs/organisations, £25 for County based organisations with under 1000 members and £40 for county based organisations with over 1000 members.