Youth Work Training and Development

We’re constantly working to improve youth work practice in Scotland. From introductory qualifications to degree-level study, we can help you find the right training opportunity for you.

At YouthLink Scotland, we offer training, resources, networks and guidance on a range of important and emerging areas of youth work practice to build your confidence, skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality youth work. 

Our professional learning offer ranges from blog articles, through e-learning, face to face and online workshops and learning communities, to our national conferences and conventions. Our training and development opportunities are for all youth workers: volunteers; paid staff; sessional; full time;  managers. 

These professional learning opportunities aim to build skills and confidence according to the Competences of Community Learning and Development (CLD) and the Youth Work National Occupational Standards. 

Highlights from our 2021-2022 Training Report

3158
individual learning places provided
162
online events delivered
48
themes covered in workshops and events

“Inspirational is an understatement...your model for curation of inspirational innovative youth work practice sharing.”

Digital Youth Work Conference Participant

E-learning

As well as browsing the resources on our website and watching recordings of webinars and keynotes on our YouTube channel, you can access learning opportunities in your own time through our NKBL Learning Hub and our online Cyber Resilience basics for youth work course.

How to become a youth worker

There are many ways into the youth work sector as a volunteer and as a paid staff member, and there are learning pathways that can prepare you for different roles and stages in your practitioner journey. 

Emerging and priority areas of practice

Youth work starts where young people are, and this means physically, developmentally and in terms of their needs and priorities. So it’s critical that the youth work sector can stay up to date and continuously build skills and knowledge to support young people. We offer training and resources on some key themes:

Hungry for learning?

Check out the latest available workshops, webinars and training courses in our Events page, or find all manner of rich resources and learning materials in our one-stop-shop Resource Library.

Woman giving a presentation in front of a screen with lots of visual information on it

Visit our youth work vacancies page

Ready for that exciting new youth work opportunity? We post the latest job opportunities from the youth work sector and beyond, so why not see what's available and take your next step today.