What is Youth Work?
The meaning of ‘youth work’ is very difficult to explain because when people talk about youth work, they can mean very different things. These could be for example: working with a group of girl guides; running a youth club/centre; carrying out detached youth work with different groups of young people on an estate; or even tutoring a group of young people on an expedition.
However, when working with young people, it has been possible to identify that there are key similarities present, therefore it can be concluded that youth work involves:
Focusing on young people and their needs – Youth work is a age-specific activity, where people who work with young people are able to make sense of the experiences that young people encounter, and are able to work with the young people to assist them.
Assisting young people in participating – Youth work has a voluntary principle to it, which is a main factor in distinguishing youth work from most of the other services which are provided for young people. This can mean that youth workers need to work harder at developing programmes that will attract young people into a youth work setting.
Being friendly, informal, and working with integrity – Youth workers have been found to have a fundamental importance on young people, as they can be seen as role models. It is therefore important that youth workers can be completely approachable, and showing a good example.
Assisting young people with their education and their welfare – When working as a youth worker, assisting young people with their education, is often of the informal kind, whilst promoting their formal education. As an informal educator, this can include educating young people on such issues as health care; personal care and even income support.
Therefore, youth work can be working with young people in many different kinds of settings, but they all have the same principles and values. Youth workers also work together to assist young people in reaching the aims and outcomes of the previous Labour government guidelines of Every Child Matters, which are that young people should:
• Be healthy
• Be safe
• Enjoy & Achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic wellbeing.
