Fusion21 Foundation invests £62,581 to strengthen digital youth work across England
The Fusion21 Foundation is investing £62,581 to support a new national programme led by the National Youth Agency (NYA), designed to strengthen the digital skills and confidence of youth workers across England. The initiative will help youth organisations deliver safe, inclusive, and engaging digital support for young people - meeting them online where they increasingly spend their time.
Building on previous NYA research funded by the Foundation, which highlighted a clear need for greater digital capability in the youth sector, the programme will develop and pilot Digital Youth Work Standards alongside a suite of flexible Continuing Professional Development (CPD) resources. These tools will support 250 youth workers across targeted local authority areas, helping improve the quality and consistency of digital youth work practice.
The training offer will include practical, accessible modules covering digital safeguarding, digital wellbeing, online engagement, and the use of emerging technologies. Designed to be flexible and user-friendly, the resources will be delivered through NYA’s Youth Work One platform, ensuring ongoing access for youth workers and organisations.
Jo Hannan, Head of the Fusion21 Foundation, said: “We’re pleased to support a project that directly responds to what youth workers need - greater confidence, clearer guidance, and practical tools to support young people safely and effectively online.
“As more of life takes place online, it’s vital that youth workers feel equipped to engage young people in ways that are safe, inclusive, and meaningful. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this programme will deliver for youth workers, organisations, and communities.”
Bex Pink, National Digital Innovation Lead at NYA said: “Building on the success of our previous Fusion21 Foundation-funded project, exploring the digital skills of youth workers, we’re excited to take the next step in supporting the sector’s digital evolution.
"This new funding enables us to develop and deliver essential training that builds the confidence, skills, and agility needed for youth workers to meet young people’s digital needs. It also strengthens the recognition and understanding of the positive impact of digital youth work.
Whether it’s engaging young people online or equipping them to navigate the digital world safely, the investment and support from Fusion21 Foundation makes it possible to deliver the training needed to ensure youth work thrives in the digital age."
The project will also gather evidence on how digital youth work is delivered and experienced, helping inform long-term improvements across the sector.
The new standards and CPD resources will remain accessible beyond the project, supporting ongoing professional development and enabling youth organisations to continue meeting the needs of young people through both in-person and online activities.