Our History

In times of change, we think in order to look forward, you must reflect on your past. For over 70 years, Oxfordshire Youth has worked with some outstanding people and organisations to provide essential support to young people in the county.

This page is still under construction, but watch this space for Oxfordshire Youth’s timeline, which we can’t wait to share with you!

Despite three name changes and projects that have come and gone, our values of innovation, ambition and reflection have stayed the same. Today, through inclusivity, trust and self-nurture, we are committed to supporting young people to be empowered, respected and feel valued to make positive choices and working collaboratively to build a resilient sector that can respond to their needs.

Youth Work Context Timeline

1844

YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) founded by Sir George Williams

1855

YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) founded by Emma Robarts and Mary Jane Kinnaird

1907

Boys’ Brigade Association founded by Sir William Alexander Smith

1910

Girl Guides Association founded By Robert Baden-Powell and Agnes Baden-Powell

1918

Government passed an Education Act empowering local authorities to make grants to clubs and youth groups

1925

National Association of Boys’ Clubs (NABC) founded

1936

Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organisations (SCVNO) created

1942

Set up of the Education Youth Advisory Board

1948

British Youth Council founded

1977

Youth Charter 2000 conference

1985

National Advisory Council for Youth Services established

1989

First ministerial conference on a core curriculum for the Youth Service

1991

Set up of the National Youth Agency

1996

First National Lottery grants for youth work

2000

UK Youth Parliament formed

2013

Launch of the Institute of Youth Work by NYA (National Youth Agency)

2020

Creation of NYA Youth Work Curriculum

2021

NYA Strategy for Youth Work