To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in what ways his Department is working with national third sector youth organisations to support the training needs of those working in the third sector to achieve the ambitions set out in Aiming High and the Children’s Plan. (247185)

Through the current youth workforce reform programme, specific work is underway to identify and meet the training priorities for the third sector so that it can play a full role in the delivery of integrated services for young people. This work is currently examining how these priorities could be met locally by new or existing training and development routes and with new Government investment. Feasibility studies on an accreditation system to accredit existing and prior experience, and the delivery of training resources to support managers in identifying workforce needs for the third sector are also being undertaken. Leaders and managers in the third sector will also have access to a leadership and management programme designed to train up to 5,000 strategic leaders and managers from across young people’s services over the next three years, starting this year. In addition the DCSF has recently created the Youth Sector Development Fund, which is designed to promote and support growth and build capacity within third sector organisations, particularly those working with the most vulnerable young people, including supporting the development needs of staff.