Youth and youth worker exchanges with the United Kingdom
Exchanges between young people and youth workers from Germany and the UK are to be expanded and improved. This is the joint goal of the German and UK governments, which IJAB actively supports.
In 2023, IJAB conducted a survey together with UK-German Connection and the British Council to identify the needs and wishes of those involved in UK-German youth exchanges. Since 2024, IJAB has been advising and supporting German organisations and applicants in the planning and implementation of non-formal exchange projects with the UK.
What is planned for 2024?
The focus will be on increased cooperation between youth work organisations in both countries: with the UK-German Youth Partnership Seminar in autumn 2024 and other accompanying activities, IJAB offers a platform to develop concrete ideas for youth and youth worker exchanges, build partnerships and establish lasting cooperation between colleagues from Germany and the UK.
With the Information on Countries document for the UK, which will be published later this year, IJAB aims at supporting professionals to become involved in youth exchanges with the UK. IJAB Information on Countries documents provide an insight into the structures of child and youth services and how young people grow up in IJAB partner countries.
What is UK-German Connection?
UK-German Connection is a bilateral initiative of the German and UK governments. The German Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom use the initiative to facilitate school, youth and youth worker exchanges between Germany and the United Kingdom.
- The Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD) is home to the German office for school exchanges. More information can be found on the PAD website School exchanges with the United Kingdom.
- IJAB is responsible for non-formal exchanges. IJAB advises and supports German organisations in planning their exchange activities with the UK.
- The UK-German Connection office in London is responsible for organisations based in the United Kingdom.
Anyone interested in UK-German exchanges can find all relevant information on the UK-German Connection website: ukgermanconnection.org
German schools
The support and processing of German school applications is handled by the PAD office in Germany since January 2024.
- Contact for questions and advice: ukgc_foerderung(at)kmk.org
German child and youth work organisations
UK-German Connection cannot provide funding to German groups for exchanges in 2024. German organisations however can apply for funding of UK-German exchanges from the Federal Government's Children and Youth Plan (KJP). The relevant guidelines and procedures apply.
- Contact for questions and advice: ukgermanconnection(at)ijab.de
UK schools and organisations involved in non-formal youth work
Information for UK schools and youth groups is available on the website of UK-German Connection: ukgermanconnection.org/pp/funding/
International Youth Policy Cooperation
