In this episode we discuss the sustainability of the advice sector workforce and the issues facing advice organisations in recruiting and retaining advisers. The podcast hosts are joined by Kani Kundu, Sector Support Executive at MAPS. Kani wrote the 'Building the Younger Generation of Advisers' report for the ASA back in 2020 and in this interview she reflects on the workforce challenges facing advice organisations, what's been working well and her recommendations for the future of the advice sector workforce. Secondly we speak to Jason Tetley, Director of Greater Manchester Law Centre who provides a case study for how certain workforce challenges can be addressed by stressing the importance of their social policy and campaigning work.
In the second part in our series on the value of advice for 'Generation Covid'. ASA's podcast hosts speak to youth advice experts Valerie Clark, Director and Senior Solicitor of Youth Legal and James Kenrick a freelance consultant specialising in young people's access to justice.
We discuss the main issues facing young people in the UK today and why specialist advice services for young people are so important in helping them. Valerie and James draw on their experience to explain the biggest challenges facing youth advice services and give their advice on how both youth advice services and 'mainstream' advice organisations can better engage with young people. They conclude by giving their view on what the future of youth advice should look like.
Related resources:
Youth Legal's website: https://www.youthlegal.org.uk/
Details about Youth Legal's Young People's Legal Rights 2021 Conference: https://www.youthlegal.org.uk/events/young-peoples-legal-rights-conference
Youth Access's Make Our Rights A Reality Manifesto: https://www.youthaccess.org.uk/resources/practice-resources/17-make-our-rights-reality-manifesto
This episode is the first in a mini-series on the value of advice for 'Generation Covid'. I am joined by Simone Spray CEO of 42nd Street, a Greater Manchester based charity that provides free and confidential services to young people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional well-being. We discuss the challenges facing young people today and how they have been exasperated by the pandemic and the value of advice for young people's mental health and wellbeing. Simone explains how 42nd Street include their service-users in service design and delivery and the importance of doing this right. She gives her recommendations for how advice services can better engage with young people and how funders and policy-makers can support youth advice organisations and ensure young people have access to them.
Find more information about 42nd street on their website here: https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/
Welcome to 'A Slice of Advice with Advice Services Alliance'! Each episode, we’ll be serving up a ‘slice’ of the key issues in the advice sector. We'll be hearing from friends and colleagues about the work they're doing to support their communities, develop the sector, and champion the role of advice across the country. We look forward to sharing our conversations with you soon - watch this space!