London Youth Quality Mark Programme
Our Quality Mark programmes support youth organisations in London to achieve the highest standards of youth work! London Youth has been delivering quality assurance work with our members for many years. The Quality Mark is our flagship offer and is delivered in three tiers (Bronze, Silver and Gold).
Completing a Quality Mark provides youth organisations with a badge of excellence that is recognised and respected by many local authorities and funders. There is also a financial incentive to undertake a quality mark with us; as organisations can apply for a grant once they achieve it (subject to funding).
Quality Mark Levels
There are three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold – which must be completed in order. Each level assesses key areas including outcomes for young people, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, partnerships, and leadership.
- Bronze is a year-long programme that runs annually from 1 October to 1 November.
- Silver and Gold can be started at any time. To get started, email qualitymark@londonyouth.org to request the framework. Once you begin, you’ll have 18 months to complete the award.
Each Quality Mark is valid for three years, and you must hold a current award before progressing to the next level.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Quality Assurance programme, organisations will need to be:
- A member of London Youth.
- An organisation which delivers direct youth work to young people.
- Delivering most of their youth work in London.
Note: Umbrella or multi-site organisations are not eligible to undertake the quality mark. However, individual venues or clubs that are a part of umbrella organisations can. They must join London Youth as individual members first. Apply for membership here.
If your organisation is an unincorporated community group – you are not eligible for the Quality Assurance programme. If you require support or guidance regarding your organisation’s development, please email membership@londonyouth.org.
Quality Mark Grants
London Youth can offer grants to organisations completing a Quality Mark thanks to the generous donations of our supporters and grant funders. As such, this feature of our offer to members is subject to us securing sufficient funds to distribute.
Organisations that achieve a Quality Mark can claim a grant for each level of Quality Mark they achieve.
- Bronze – Organisations that achieve this Quality Mark level for the first time can claim a £2,000
- Silver – Organisations that achieve this Quality Mark level for the first time can claim a £1,500
- Gold – Organisations that achieve this Quality Mark level for the first time can claim a £1,500
Members can claim a total of £5,000 for completing all three Quality Mark levels.
We do not offer a grant for revalidating a Quality Mark.
If you have any questions about our Quality Mark grants, please email qualitymark@londonyouth.org and a member of the team will get back to you.
Resource Library
London Youth has created a resource library to support you in undertaking a Quality Mark. The library currently provides comprehensive tools and resources for the Bronze and Silver Quality Marks. We are working on developing the same for the Gold level (this will be created once the redesign for Gold framework has been completed).
You can access our free Resources Library here.
Please get in touch if there are any resources you require from us, or would like to see featured in the resources library (for any Quality Mark level).
We encourage our members to share good practices and useful tools. If you want us to feature one of your resources in our library, please reach out to the Quality Mark Team at qualitymark@londonyouth.org.
