PDA in Youth Work - National 2026 - 03/09 - 14/01 - Note of Interest

– PDA in Youth Work – National, Edinburgh 2026

– 3rd, 10th Sept / 22nd, 29th Oct / 26th Nov & 14th Jan

– Balfour House, 19 Bonnington Grove, Edinburgh EH6 4BL

– 10am - 5pm

INTRODUCTION
The PDA in Youth Work has been designed for those working with young people in a Youth Work context. It is suitable for people who have experience of youth work in a paid or volunteering capacity but who might not have formal qualifications in youth work.
The PDA in Youth Work offers a nationally recognised, Qualification Scotland accredited qualification at SCQF Level 6.
Participants will be required to complete all three units and also to undertake a practical placement within their workplace or the youth club/group where they volunteer or work. As part of their practical placement, they will be expected to deliver youth work sessions and support young people to gain a Youth Scotland award. In order to complete the PDA, participants are required to log 10 youth work sessions, complete 3 assessments and 1 observed practice session. The candidate will be observed delivering youth work in their workplace or the group/club where they work/volunteer.
***This course is by application form only - this will be emailed to you along with a course flier ***
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
All applicants/participants must be 18 + * and be able to demonstrate that they:
• Have 1 year experience of regularly working/volunteering in a youth work setting.
• Have completed the Youth Scotland Ready for Youth Work 2-day course (in person or online 6 sessions) or equivalent covering core competencies as per the National Youth Work Induction Checklist.
• Have completed a Child Protection Awareness course in the past 2 years.
• Currently work or volunteer in a youth work setting.
• Have written permission from their workplace or the youth group where they volunteer, confirming they can be observed delivering youth work as part of the PDA course.
• Are able to attend all the outlined training sessions and undertake all the required assessments.
*Young leaders aged 16+ – 18 who are suitably experienced may also be considered

Youth worker training is in high demand – please help us support youth workers to access the training and development they deserve with these simple steps:

1. Tell us if you cannot attend more than 24hrs in advance. This allows us to free up the space for another youth worker (many sessions are oversubscribed) and means you will avoid being charged the £25 fee for late-notice cancellation or non-attendance.
2. Check you can join with camera and microphone. Our online training is engaging, interactive and discussion-based – not a webinar format. Our members regularly tell us this is better learning and we are confident you will gain more.
3. Eventbrite sends you all your information by email. You will receive your ticket at booking and be sent a reminder – with any login details if online – approximately 24hrs in advance. If there are materials and handouts, your facilitator will send these too.

Thank you for using our training and helping us to continue supporting the needs of our members and community-based youth work.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Members:

A £25 non-attendance fee will be applied where cancellation has not been received in advance of the event(24 hours before the event).

Please note: if you have been charged a fee to attend this training, training fees are non-refundable, where a cancellation has not been received in advance of the event starting.

You/your group will then receive an invoice.

Non-members:

A £25 non-attendance fee will be applied where cancellation has not been received in advance of the event(24 hours before the event).

Please note: If you have been charged a fee to attend this training as a non-member groups/organisation, training fees will be non-refundable, where a cancellation has not been received in advance of the event starting.

You/your group will then receive an invoice.