Downloads:
ADA/Equipment Forms:
click here
Guidance for evaluation reports of ADAs:
click here
Mentoring Forms/Guidance:
click here
Sponsoring Guidance:
click here
QLP Publication - Youth Ideas & Action:
click here
QLP Publication - QLP News:
click here
QLP Publications/Related Articles:
click here
PHF Reports:
click here
Evaluation Interim Report:
click here
Evaluation Update April 2007:
click here
Youth Policy Review:
click here
Background
The Quality Leaders Project - Youth (QLP-Y) is an externally funded project based in the Department of Applied Social Sciences (DASS), working closely with the University's Management Research Centre (MRC).
QLP is a work-based learning and developmental programme which uses the approach "management development through service development". It requires joint work between relevant Council Departments and community groups. It provides skills, support and experience to "quality leaders" and their teams in participating authorities. It also develops innovative, relevant services for young people based on extensive consultation. Each authority releases a Quality Leader (QL) for at least two days a week, as well as a diverse team working with the QL. In addition, they provide a mentor and a sponsor to support the QL and ensure success. As part of funding arrangements, each participating authority is provided with a small budget to run audience development workshops and to purchase basic equipment.
The project started in 1999. Its feasibility study and pilot phase were funded by the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). QLP was "highly commended" in the Organisational Change category of the Diversity Awards by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) in 2003. Prof. Roderick Floud formally congratulated QLP in January, 2004 at a session at MRC. In 2005, the Mayor of London's Commission on African and Asian Heritage also acknowledged the contribution of QLP.
QLP-Youth - the current strand
The current strand of QLP-Youth consists of two phases. The first, six-month, phase was funded by the National Youth Agency. During this period, participants from youth and library authorities were given project management skills and devised service development proposals in consultation with young people. The second phase will last for two years during which the service development proposals are put into practice. This phase is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and started with a Development Day on 13 October, 2005 at DASS. Youth and library services from Barnet, Haringey, Lincolnshire, Liverpool, and Portsmouth are participating in the programme.
A key aspect of QLP-Y are "audience development" workshops which seek to increase the reach of libraries and youth services to meet the needs of all young people, particularly refugees and asylum seekers and those who have not been reached before. Audience development is a more inclusive term than "reader development". Young people should be reached with untypical and innovative services and initiatives such as arts, cinema, music, drama and other cultural activities.
The QLP-Y programme provides regular workshop sessions in activities such as:
- presentations from writers, poets, film makers, media and other professionals
- music workshops, book and newsletter production sessions, broadcast workshops, film making modules
- various informal learning experiences
- ICT-related activities
- guest speakers (including young people themselves) from different fields so as to enable the young people to meet potential role models from diverse communities and different fields.
QLP-Y produces an irregular newsletter, Youth Ideas & Action, which provides update on the project as well as developments in youth work and staff development.
