Understanding the YFC Support Plan

We want everyone to feel like they belong and are included in YFC. It’s important – and a legal requirement – that we are able to make reasonable adjustments to ensure everyone can be involved.

Having conversations with the member, and their parent or carer, where appropriate, is the best way to understand the challenges the person may be facing at YFC and how you can support them.

NFYFC has developed an Additional Needs Support Plan to help you manage a conversation and record what is agreed about the reasonable adjustments that need to be made. The plan will give you a starting point and gives you a record to review over time.

How to create a support plan

1. Have a conversation

• Have a conversation with the YFC member, their parent or carer (where appropriate).
• Ask them to talk about adjustments that would make it easier for them to participate in YFC activities – this could be about getting involved in competitions or needing a quiet space during club meetings.
• Talk about the things they enjoy and what they are good at and discuss how your club can help them overcome challenges.
• For more help with holding a conversation, see our section on Working with parents and carers.

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2. Develop the individual plan

• Use NFYFC's template to complete the plan together with the YFC member and their parent or carer, where appropriate.
• The boxes on the support plan will lead you through the conversation.
• The shortest plan will be three sides of A4. If a person has more than one need, for instance medical and access requirements, additional sheets will be needed for each need.

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3. Ensure everyone agrees

• Once the plan is completed, ensure the officer, YFC member, parent or carer (where appropriate) have approved the plan and signed it on the final page.
• You should also agree who the plan will be shared with and where the information will be stored.

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4. Share the plan

• Once the plan is agreed, it's important to share it with the relevant people involved, such as the young person’s parents, the club officers, and where required, any support staff working with the young person.
• Parental permission must be sought and gained prior to consultation with others regarding the young person (where appropriate).
• Ensure the relevant officers know the level of support outlined in the support plan, together with the strategies and approaches needed.
• Encourage members and officers to adopt inclusive attitudes and practices to support the young person in line with the support plan.

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5. Review the plan

• The plan should be reviewed annually at a review meeting – but sooner if there is a change in need.
• It is a good idea to review it after four to six weeks to ensure it is providing the support required.
• Following a review of the support plan, any changes to the plan must be fully documented as well as communicating these changes to everyone involved in implementing the support plan.