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Youth and community workers

We act as the Secretariat for the Employers' Side of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Youth and Community Workers (YCW).


This was established in 1951 to provide voluntary collective bargaining machinery for youth and community workers in local government.

It covers approximately 7,102 staff in the statutory sector – as of August 2021 – including those on the:

  • youth and community support workers range
  • professional range.

November 2024

The National Employers responded to the Staff Side’s pay and conditions claim for 2024 with a pay offer. This offer was rejected by the Staff Side on 22 November. This is under further consideration in order to seek a resolution.

June 2024

The JNC Youth and Community Staff Side has submitted its pay and conditions claim for 2024. The main elements are as follows:

  1. A substantial pay rise of at least 10 per cent or £3,000 whichever the greater.
  2. Measures to address work-life balance and time off in lieu
  3. Joint working to call for key worker status for JNC youth and community workers.
  4. That work to discuss race and gender pay gaps in youth work at Joint Secretarial level commences no later than the 30 September 2024. 
  5. For a review of the grading matrix with this work commencing no later than 30 September 2024.

The National Employers will shortly undertake a consultation on the claim. 

March 2024

The JNC has updated the JNC Agreement - ‘The Pink Book’.

December 2023

Joint Education Services Circular (JESC) NO 230 - Youth and community workers' pay agreement 2023

The JNC for Youth and Community Workers has reached an agreement on a pay award for 2023 which is as follows:

  • an increase of £1925 on all other spinal column points on the Youth and Community Support Worker Range and the Professional Range from 1 September 2023
  • an increase of 3.88 per cent on the London Area Allowances and Sleeping-In-Duty Allowance from 1 September 2023.

October 2023

Following a consultation process, the Employers’ Side has made a final pay offer to the Staff Side.

JNC YCW Employers' Side - Pay offer 2023 

March 2022

The JNC for Youth and Community Workers has conducted a pay and workforce survey. This final Pay and Workforce survey report provides information and analysis on the current youth and community workforce and sector.

Pink Book

The 'Pink Book' is the terms and conditions handbook for youth and community workers. The JNC updated the JNC Agreement (The Pink Book) in March 2024:

The  JNC agreement - 'The Pink Book'

Please note that Appendix 1 - JNC endorsed professional qualifications is available as a web page, and is not in the below PDF.

The JNC determines pay for youth and community workers - previous settlements as follows:



Contact

Email: Youth&[email protected]

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