Community, Youth and Families

Community, youth, and families work is an applied discipline concerned with supporting the wellbeing and development of young people, children, and families, typically in community and voluntary settings. It draws on sociology, psychology, social policy, and youth work theory to develop practitioners who can engage effectively with young people facing disadvantage, exclusion, or complex family circumstances. It is a profession rooted in relationship-building and in the belief that the right kind of support at the right time can be genuinely transformative.

At the University of St Mark and St John, this three-year full-time programme enables you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to inspire, encourage, and nurture through both academic learning and experiential placements in real community settings. You will develop your understanding of young people's development, the social and policy contexts of family life, and the practice skills needed to build effective professional relationships. The experiential placement component is central to the programme, grounding your theoretical learning in direct professional experience with communities and the people within them.

The typical entry tariff is 88 points.

Graduates of community, youth, and families programmes pursue careers as youth workers, family support workers, community development workers, and professionals in the voluntary and statutory sectors that work with children, young people, and families. The practical and reflective training the programme provides is valued in local authority services, children's centres, youth clubs, third-sector organisations, and housing and community development projects. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in social work, youth work, education, or community development to develop their professional expertise.