Youth Work Week celebrates the positive impact of youth work across Denbighshire

Denbighshire Youth Service is joining organisations across Wales in celebrating Youth Work Week 2026, taking place from 23 to 30 June.

The annual campaign highlights the vital role youth work plays in supporting young people to develop confidence, resilience and skills for life. It is an opportunity to recognise the positive impact youth workers have within communities and to showcase the wide range of opportunities available to young people through youth services across Wales.

To mark Youth Work Week, Principal Youth Officer for Denbighshire Youth Service, Cath Taylor, has reflected on the achievements of the service and the dedication of staff, volunteers, partners and young people who help make a difference every day.

Cath Taylor, Principal Youth Officer for Denbighshire Youth Service, said:

"As we celebrate Youth Work Week, I want to take a moment to recognise and celebrate the exceptional work of our team at Denbighshire Youth Service and everyone who contributes to its success.

Across our county, our youth workers, volunteers, partners, and young people themselves are making a real and lasting difference every single day. Our consistent commitment to supporting young people to thrive is deeply valued.

Our work often flies under the radar, but we know the impact of youth work is immeasurable and long-lasting. With every £1 spent on youth work generating between £3.20 and £6.40 social return on investment the service really delivers excellent value for money.

The safe spaces we provide for young people to discover who they are, feel heard, respected, and empowered, we are incredibly proud of.

In Denbighshire, our diverse youth offer opens doors of opportunities for young people every day. We have supported thousands of young people over the past few years to improve their confidence and resilience, work towards realising their potential and shaping their futures in a positive way, whilst getting their voices heard on matters that are important to them in their lives.

Our youth work team never fail to amaze with their creative approach and always finding a way to support young people and meet them where they’re at.

Over the past 12 months we have responded well to the changing needs of young people and communities. Whether delivering open access provision, targeted support, outreach work, or partnership programmes, our work is vital and the proof is in the many good news stories we’ve been able to share over this period.

Youth Work Week is not only a celebration but an opportunity to advocate for the value of youth work. It is a chance to highlight that youth work is essential—not an add-on, but a cornerstone of community wellbeing and prevention and central to supporting young people into adult citizenship.

To all our youth workers in particularly, I’d like to extend an enormous thank you. Our collective passion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment makes a difference that cannot always be measured but is always felt by those on the receiving end.

And to our young people: thank you for trusting us, engaging with us, and shaping the service. You are at the heart of everything we do.

Youth Work Week is a time to reflect and take pride in our achievements, including how we have developed partnerships both across the public and third sector, worked collaboratively, and championed the importance of youth work across Denbighshire.

Happy Youth Work Week."

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, added:

"Youth work provides invaluable support for young people at every stage of their journey, helping them to build confidence, develop new skills, make positive choices and reach their full potential.

"I would like to thank all our dedicated youth workers, volunteers and partners who work tirelessly to support young people across Denbighshire. Their commitment, creativity and passion make a genuine difference to the lives of young people and to the strength of our communities.

"Youth Work Week is an opportunity to celebrate these achievements and to recognise the important role youth work plays in helping young people feel connected, heard and empowered to shape their futures."

To find out more about Denbighshire Youth Service, please visit our website or their Facebook page.