Are you already working, or wanting to work with young people?
Do you have the passion and drive to support and empower and enable young people to develop holistically?
Our Youth Work Training courses at AIMCommunity provide you with the essential knowledge, self-reflection and opportunity for developing practical and professional Youth Work skills within your chosen placement (voluntary or paid).
We offer Nationally recognised Youth Work Training delivered flexibly both online and face to face.
Courses are open to anyone working either in voluntary or paid roles, to grow and develop their skills, knowledge and confidence when working alongside young people.
Youth Work Training Courses
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Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles
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Level 3 Certificate (JNC recognised) in Youth Work Practice
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Level 3 Diploma (JNC recognised) in Youth Work Practice
All courses are accredited through the awarding body NOCN (National Open College Network)
Courses are endorsed by the National Youth Agency (NYA)
"If you are looking towards working with young people then look no further, the course that AIM community provides is the perfect opportunity to further develop your understanding of Youth Work. It is both engaging and informative without being too overwhelming and they cover a wide range of topics."
Matt: Current 25/26 learner
Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice
Which course is right for you?....
All of our courses are delivered by experienced Youth Work Practitioners and include engaging learning sessions to support and develop your work alongside young people in your voluntary or paid placement.
Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles
The Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles course for learners who are already working, or who are new to working with young people.
Suitable for volunteers, part time youth workers or learners who work with young people in different settings, ie school, sports etc.
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Engaging & Communicating with Young People
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Theory of Youth Work
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Young People's Development
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Safeguarding in a Youth Work Setting
- Online and Face to Face sessions
- Delivered over 6-8 months
- Approx 2 teaching sessions a month
Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice (JNC recognised)
Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice is for learners who want to develop their skills and practice and to facilitate sessions as a Youth Support Worker.
Suitable for those with regular engagement with young people, either in a voluntary or paid placement.
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The 4 from Level 2 as well as
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Reflective Practice
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Group Work in a Youth Work Setting
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Work Based Practice
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Behaviour that Challenges
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Anti- Discriminatory Practice in Youth Work
- Online and Face to Face sessions
- Delivered over 16 months
- Approx 2 teaching sessions a month
Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice (JNC Recognised)
Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice is for learners who want to broaden and deepen their knowledge and Youth Work practice.
Suitable for those with regular engagement with young people, and those already leading, or wishing to lead group work activity and supervisory roles either in a voluntary or paid placement.
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The 9 from Level 3 Certificate
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Opportunities to select units for your own professional development, such as; Trauma informed approaches to youth work, Youth Work in digital spaces and places and detached and outreach Youth Work.
- Online and Face to Face sessions
- Delivered over 16 months
- Approx 2 teaching sessions a month
"So far I have found nothing quite as fulfilling as Youth Work, and with a recognised qualification, you can get far more opportunities to take something most people in the industry do voluntarily, and make a living doing it.
It isn't the easiest job in the world, but it is one of the most fulfilling!'
George: Qualified Learner
Level 3 Diploma Youth Work Practice
Youth Work Training FAQ's
1. What are the entry requirements? - Whilst there are no academic entry requirements for our courses, all learners are expected to have a basic level of written and verbal English. - All learners will need to have practical experience working alongside young people as part of their course. You can either already have a placement or begin one once you start the course. This can be voluntary or paid and must be a minimum of one hour a week. - All learners must have a supervisor or line manager at their placement. They will support you with practical elements of the course. If you are a Level 3 learner then your line manager must be a JNC Level 3 or above qualified Youth Worker. Your line manager/ supervisor must be in agreement to supporting you throughout this course and will need to be available to you regularly. More information will be sent to your line manager/supervisor once you have been accepted onto the course. - All learners must be able to attend both online and face to face sessions and access teaching material using our online platform to complete the course. - Once you are accepted on the course we would expect all learners to complete at least a Level 2 safeguarding children and young people course as part of their placement criteria.
2. What if I don't have a placement but want to do the course? - We would love to hear from you if you are interested in our Youth Work courses and we can support you to make contacts in the local area to set up a suitable placement. - Getting practical experience is an essential part of Youth Work practice so we would also encourage you to make connections and contacts with any groups or organisations local to you.
3. What is the cost for the course? - Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles - £650 - Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice (JNC Recognised) - £1,150 - Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice (JNC Recognised) - £1,350 We want our courses to be as accessible as possible. The team are available to contact if you have any queries regarding funding the course at youthwork@aimcommunity.org
4. How will the course be delivered? - We deliver hybrid learning for all courses - both online through Zoom and face to face at one of our AIMCommunity centres. The majority of the learning will be delivered online on a Wednesday evening from 7.30-9.30pm. There are approximately 2 learning sessions per month.
5. How long will the course take to complete? - Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles - approximately 6-8 months (Sept 2026 - April/May 2027) - Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice - approximately 16 months (Sept 2026 -Jan 2028) - Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice - approximately 16 months (Sept 2026 -Jan 2028)
6. What opportunities will this course give me? Our courses provide an opportunity for you to learn new tools and knowledge to better understand young people and Youth Work. The courses provide opportunities to meet others working in similar placements, to learn from them and to also share your own experience to empower others. Working with young people can often be hard, and sometimes a lonely experience. Our courses give you space to reflect on the amazing work that you do in a relaxed and informative environment and to appreciate the importance and impact of Youth Work.
7. Is it important to have a Youth Work qualification if I want to work alongside young people? Youth Work Qualifications give you an opportunity to take time to gain foundational knowledge that you can use to adapt and enhance your work with young people. We believe that taking time for yourself to learn your profession is invaluable and will give you confidence, time for self-reflection and growth which in turn will enhance the support you can give to the young people that you work with. Our Level 3 JNC qualification is widely recognised as the minimum standard for working as a Youth Support Worker across the sector.
8. How is the course assessed? The course is assessed through a combination of practical assessment, which might include observation of your work with young people or a professional discussion about a particular topic with your assessor. Other assessment methods include written or creative methods linked to assessment criteria. for example, you might be asked to create an information sheet for a young person, or complete a workbook style question relating to the topic. We work with learners to understand how they learn best and to overcome any barriers there might be to submitting assessments. We are not looking for academic assignments within your work, however you will be able to clearly communicate your responses and demonstrate practice. Prior to starting the course, and throughout, you will be able to speak with your assessor if you have any questions.
9. Do I have to attend all of the sessions? Yes, we would like you to attend all of the teaching sessions. This gives you the best opportunity to learn and participate in conversation with other learners. We use an online classroom format to share teaching, however we know that it's always best to be part of the conversation from the outset. For online sessions we ask that everyone has their cameras and microphones on and available and they are set up in a space that they can freely talk and interact. For all sessions we will expect learners to engage with discussions and activities to get the best from your learning. We understand that life happens, so if there is a genuine reason that you're not able to attend a particular session please let your tutors know in as much time as possible and we will make sure that you have the information in a different way.
10. Why should I choose to do my course with AIMCommunity? AIMCommunity is a Creative Arts and Education charity supporting young people with a variety of backgrounds to holistically grow in themselves and their space in their community. We have over 20 years experience of working alongside young people with the central principles of Youth Work at the core of what we do. Our tutors are employees of AIMCommunity, and work across the programmes here at AIM bringing real life and real time examples and experiences to the teaching. We have been delivering the Youth Work Training courses through NOCN for over 8 years and are experienced in our delivery and support for learners. We look forward to meeting you!
Next courses starting
September 2026
Meet our Team
Our friendly and knowledgeable team bring their passion for Youth Work to life using real world experiences to enhance your learning experience.
Click on our photos for more information about each team member
NICOLA
YOUTHWORK TRAINING MANAGER & TUTOR
MATT
TUTOR & ASSESSOR
LIZZIE
INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURER
Contact us