Youth and community workers

We act as the Secretariat for the Employers' Side of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Youth and Community Workers (YCW). This was established in 1951 to provide voluntary collective bargaining machinery for Youth and Community Workers in local authorities and the voluntary sector.


The JNC for Youth and Community Workers covers approximately 7,100 staff in local authorities which includes:

  • youth and community support workers
  • professional range staff.

As a Secretariat we are only able to provide advice, guidance and support to local authorities and our subscribers in England and Wales.

Pink Book

The 'Pink Book' is the terms and conditions handbook for youth and community workers. The JNC updated the JNC Agreement (The Pink Book) in March 2024:

The  JNC agreement - 'The Pink Book'

Please note that Appendix 1 - JNC endorsed professional qualifications is available as a web page, and is not in the below PDF.

May 2026

The JNC Staff Side has submitted its pay and conditions claim for this year. The National Employers will now undertake a consultation on the claim following which it will respond to the Staff Side.

November 2025

The JNC for Youth and Community Workers has reached a pay agreement for 2025 which is a pay increase of 3.2 per cent on all pay points on the pay scale.

October 2025

The Employers’ Side has responded to the Staff Side’s pay and conditions claim for 2025 with a pay offer

October 2025

The JNC for Youth and Community Workers has issued guidance on work life balance

June 2025

The JNC for Youth and Community Workers Staff Side (Unite, UNISON, NEU and UCU) has submitted its staff side pay and conditions claim for 2025

March 2024

The JNC has updated the JNC Agreement - ‘The Pink Book’

March 2022

The JNC for Youth and Community Workers has conducted a pay and workforce survey. This final Pay and Workforce survey report provides information and analysis on the current youth and community workforce and sector.

The JNC determines pay for youth and community workers - previous settlements as follows:


Contact

Email: Youth&[email protected]