Community and Youth Work Studies with Integrated Foundation Year

Community and youth work is a professional field dedicated to working with young people and communities in ways that support personal development, social inclusion, and collective empowerment. It is a discipline rooted in values of social justice, participation, and respect for the experience and agency of the people it works with, rather than treating them simply as recipients of services. Community and youth workers create informal educational opportunities, facilitate group work, develop community projects, advocate for the people they serve, and contribute to the design and delivery of the programmes and policies that affect their lives.

At the University of Sunderland, this four-year full-time programme includes an integrated foundation year, providing a smooth and supported entry into degree-level study for those returning to education, those who did not quite meet standard entry requirements, or those who would benefit from a more gradual introduction to university. You will develop the values, knowledge, and professional skills of community and youth work, studying youth development, community education, facilitation, social policy, equality and diversity, group work theory and practice, and the ethical and legal frameworks that govern work with young people and communities. A year abroad is part of the programme, giving you an international perspective on how communities and young people are supported in different social and political contexts.

With a typical entry tariff of 120 UCAS points, this programme is accessible to students motivated by a genuine commitment to working with and for communities. Graduates pursue careers as community youth workers, detached youth workers, youth programme coordinators, community development officers, voluntary sector managers, local authority community engagement staff, and professionals in a wide range of organisations working with young people, families, and communities. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in youth work, community development, social work, or education.