As the county’s leading infrastructure body for youth work, we champion a vision where every young person – wherever they are, and whatever their circumstances – can access world-class support, opportunity, and hope.
We are here to power the sector — inspiring, equipping and standing alongside the extraordinary professionals and organisations who change young lives every day.
Thanks to vital funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and the Prudence Trust, we are unlocking bold, new ways to serve Oxfordshire’s youth sector. We build on decades of experience to deliver cutting-edge learning programmes, sector-wide training, and high-impact development opportunities. Whether through our flagship conferences or our day-to-day guidance, we are a trusted source of excellence and leadership.
We provide expert, values-led infrastructure support across five core pillars:
We raise standards and ambition across the sector through:
We nurture a new generation of confident, skilled, and compassionate leaders through:
We prioritise the emotional health of those who support young people by offering:
We are committed to making Oxfordshire’s youth sector fairer, safer, and more representative by:
We help youth organisations grow with confidence by offering:
Backed by national funders like the National Lottery Community Fund, Prudence Trust, and the National Youth Agency, our support is evidence-informed, trauma-aware, and youth-centred. Every programme, toolkit, and conversation is designed to build a more resilient, inclusive and high-performing youth sector.
Alongside our five pillars, Oxfordshire Youth offers vital operational services and pioneering programmes that strengthen the foundation of youth organisations across Oxfordshire.
We equip adults with the skills to support young people safely, confidently, and compassionately. Our high-quality training offer includes accredited youth work qualifications and CPD opportunities tailored to the real-world needs of the sector. Whether you’re stepping into youth work for the first time or deepening your practice, we help you lead with purpose.
Be part of a growing movement of youth organisations working together to strengthen Oxfordshire’s youth sector. As a Changemaker, you’ll get access to essential tools, connections and support to help your organisation thrive.
Members benefit from:
Ready to grow, connect and lead with us?
Join the Changemaker Network Enter the Changemaker Area
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children.
If you are volunteering or applying for paid work with children, or to work in a regulated activity with adults, then you will need a DBS check.
DBS checks are easy, once you understand the reasons for the questions you will be asked.
The information that you provide on your DBS application establishes your identity. It provides enough details for checks to be made, so that employers can be as confident as possible that they are recruiting safely.
We offer bespoke training to our Changemakers in filling out these forms and avoiding the most common mistakes. This is especially useful for organisations that recruit a lot of volunteers or staff.
As part of our package for youth-focused organisations in Oxfordshire that sign up to the Changemaker Network, we will waive our administration fee for the first five DBS applications you submit saving your organisation £10 per DBS check.
| Standard | Enhanced | |||||
| Changemakers (affiliated) | Non-affiliated: not-for-profit organisation | Non-affiliated: for-profit organisation | Changemakers (affiliated) | Non-affiliated: not-for-profit organisation | Non-affiliated: for-profit organisation | |
| Volunteer check | Admin Fee £5 | Admin Fee £15 | Admin Fee £50 | Admin Fee £5 | Admin Fee £15 | Admin Fee £50 |
| Paid staff check | Admin Fee £10 + DBS charge £21.50 | Admin Fee £20 + DBS charge £21.50 | Admin Fee £50 + DBS charge £21.50 | Admin Fee £10 + DBS charge £49.50 | Admin Fee £20 + DBS charge £49.50 | Admin Fee £50 + DBS charge £49.50 |
Firstly, to reduce mistakes – please read the front page! Write in black ink and capital letters – the staff at DBS are looking for clarity. Also, when writing out dates, other than your date of birth and date of signing, they are looking for the month and year eg May 1970 will be (05/1970). Do not sign the back page signature box, that is for the registered body only.
Oxfordshire Youth take data handling very seriously. When we receive your application form, your details are stored online in a confidential excel file. The physical forms are then, if they are not being sent off to DBS that day, are kept in a folder in a locked filing cupboard.
When your form is sent off, we scan it and keep the scanned files for up to 1 year after it arrived at OY. On the 1at April of each year, we will delete the scanned files from the previous April. Your evidence checklist/ privacy statements are scanned and then shredded as we do not keep any physical copies of your data once they have been sent to DBS in line with GDPR regulations.
Please print off a continuation sheet and detail in the ‘Additional Information’ section your living situation. This is so those evaluating your application can locate where any police files on you would be kept. Your homeless status will not affect your application.
Update Service application checklist
Declaration of Understanding Form
Chiara Querci-Hall, British Gymnastics“We have developed such a brilliant relationship with Oxfordshire Youth. I honestly don’t think we’d go anywhere else for training now”
Oxfordshire Youth has made it an organisational priority to provide our Changemaker network with a constant D.B.S. service. I am Alice, the D.B.S. Administrator for Oxfordshire Youth, I look forward to receiving and processing your D.B.S. applications. If you have any queries or questions, please feel free to contact me on dbs@oxfordshireyouth.org.
Calling all young people in Year 7 to Year 11 in and around Cowley in Oxford. Oxfordshire Youth are launching our weekly Digital Skills Youth Club for you to upgrade your Digital Skills on Monday 4th November 2025. Join our mailing list for this youth club to stay up to date!
