Youth Work Conference 2024 - Spaces Now Open

On Saturday 16 November, a regional Youth Work conference will bring together Youth Work practitioners from across Dumfries and Galloway. Working at the Coalface will take place at North West Community Campus, Dumfries from 10am to 5pm. The programme will feature a wide variety of workshops and speakers for the day.

The programme for the Working At The Coalface conference includes keynote speaker Graeme Armstrong, a Scottish writer who has also presented a BBC documentary series on Street Gangs. Graeme uses his lived experience plus research to focus on the themes of street violence, substance abuse and masculinity, whilst sharing inspirational examples of best practice. Alongside overcoming his own struggles with drug addiction, alcohol abuse and violence, Graeme defied expectation to read English as an undergraduate at the University of Stirling; where, after graduating with honours, he returned to study a Masters' in Creative Writing.

Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Councillor Gail Macgregor said:

“Working at the Coalface will provide Youth Work practitioners and volunteers from across our region with a valuable opportunity to take part in a range of high-quality activities and workshops. It is important that we are investing this time into our Youth Work sector for the benefit of all of our young people across Dumfries and Galloway. If you are a Youth Work practitioner or volunteer within any sector, I would strongly encourage you to sign up for this fantastic event.”

We are also delighted that the conference will include workshops on:

• Creative Consultation and Effective Evaluation delivered by Youth Scotland.
• Young People and Consent delivered by Rape Crisis.
• Imagine A Man delivered by Youth Link Scotland and No Knives Better Lives
• ACES: Understanding how trauma makes us behave, delivered by Dr Louise Cumbley – Director, Clinical Psychology, NHS
• Drugs and Weapon Use delivered by Fast Forward

The event will also feature a lunchtime marketplace, with organisations from across Dumfries and Galloway sharing information on the services they provide for young people as well as staff.

Lunch and refreshments will be included. If you would like to register to attend, please sign up at https://youthwork.dumgal.gov.uk