YOUTH WORK IN YOUTH WORK IN ENGLAND-AN OVERVIEWENGLAND-AN OVERVIEW

20092009

History of youth workHistory of youth work

Origins in the Victorian era, starting with Origins in the Victorian era, starting with church movements such as the Methodistschurch movements such as the MethodistsYouth clubs established in poor areas, Youth clubs established in poor areas, uniformed groups start including scouts, uniformed groups start including scouts, etcetcMajor change at the end of the second Major change at the end of the second world war. Education Act of 1944 world war. Education Act of 1944 establishes requirement for local establishes requirement for local governments to provide youth provisiongovernments to provide youth provision

History of youth work (cont.)History of youth work (cont.)

1960s, greater provision of youth projects 1960s, greater provision of youth projects and youth clubsand youth clubs1980s, youth work moves into new areas 1980s, youth work moves into new areas of work, including detached youth work, of work, including detached youth work, youth information, etcyouth information, etc1990s, youth work becomes more involved 1990s, youth work becomes more involved with youth crime initiatives, drugs work with youth crime initiatives, drugs work and working more closely with social and working more closely with social services, youth justice and the healthservices, youth justice and the health

Youth Work TodayYouth Work Today

Youth work is located in:Youth work is located in:-General youth clubs-General youth clubs-Local youth projects-Local youth projects-specialist projects delivering:-specialist projects delivering:

detached youth work, drugs education, detached youth work, drugs education, citizenship in schools, alternative citizenship in schools, alternative

educational provision, sexual health, educational provision, sexual health, crime diversion, teenage pregnancy, crime diversion, teenage pregnancy, participation and inclusion, health,etc.participation and inclusion, health,etc.

Youth Work TodayYouth Work Today

Estimated 6,000 full-time youth workers Estimated 6,000 full-time youth workers nationally. Many thousands of part-time nationally. Many thousands of part-time youth workers.youth workers.Youth work is delivered by both the Youth work is delivered by both the statutory (Local Government) sector and statutory (Local Government) sector and the voluntary (independent) sector.the voluntary (independent) sector.Youth work intervention now seen as an Youth work intervention now seen as an effective means of developing work with effective means of developing work with the ‘hard to reach’the ‘hard to reach’

What is youth work?What is youth work?

Youth work is a process of informal Youth work is a process of informal personal, social and political education, personal, social and political education, founded on a voluntary relationship with founded on a voluntary relationship with young people, that strives to challenge young people, that strives to challenge discrimination, develop understanding and discrimination, develop understanding and empower individuals and groups.empower individuals and groups.

What does the government mean What does the government mean by youth work?by youth work?

Youth service activities (Youth service activities (by that they mean youth workby that they mean youth work) ) are primarily for personal and social development. They are primarily for personal and social development. They can be formal or informal. They must be linked to raising can be formal or informal. They must be linked to raising achievement and standards in education, training and achievement and standards in education, training and employment or initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion employment or initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion and participationand participation

All the types of youth service provision must be focussed All the types of youth service provision must be focussed on youth work that is supporting formal and informal on youth work that is supporting formal and informal education, training or employment.education, training or employment.

Current changes in youth work – Current changes in youth work – What are the contributing factors?What are the contributing factors?Society - changing expectations and make-upSociety - changing expectations and make-up

Government - overarching priorities impacting Government - overarching priorities impacting upon youth provisionupon youth provision

Communities - safety and cohesionCommunities - safety and cohesion

Young people - changing issues in the 21Young people - changing issues in the 21stst CenturyCentury

A profession coming to terms with being A profession coming to terms with being professionalprofessional

SocietySociety

An aging populationAn aging population

Greater ethnic diversityGreater ethnic diversity

Expectation that the state will provideExpectation that the state will provide

Good citizenship versus the cult of the Good citizenship versus the cult of the individualindividual

An unsure future for us allAn unsure future for us all

GovernmentGovernment

Restructuring the welfare stateRestructuring the welfare state

Enforcing social inclusionEnforcing social inclusion

ImmigrationImmigration

EuropeEurope

Getting the unemployed back to workGetting the unemployed back to work

Redeveloping our inner citiesRedeveloping our inner cities

Re-shaping educationRe-shaping education

Dealing with crimeDealing with crime

CommunitiesCommunities

Breaking up of traditional communitiesBreaking up of traditional communities

Safety in our neighbourhoodsSafety in our neighbourhoods

Getting rid of the neighbours from hellGetting rid of the neighbours from hell

Regenerating disadvantaged areasRegenerating disadvantaged areas

Greater community participation in Greater community participation in decision-makingdecision-making

Young PeopleYoung People

EducationEducationHealthHealth

PhysicalPhysical MentalMental SexualSexual

Employment- What job for life?Employment- What job for life?Internet generationInternet generationDrugsDrugsCrimeCrimePolitical disaffectionPolitical disaffectionExpectations versus realityExpectations versus realitySense of identitySense of identity

The changing face of youth work - The changing face of youth work - “The new architecture”“The new architecture”

Professionalising the serviceProfessionalising the serviceAccountabilityAccountabilityTarget driven service deliveryTarget driven service deliveryYoung people’s participation in structural Young people’s participation in structural developmentdevelopmentTraining of full- and part-time youth workersTraining of full- and part-time youth workersRestructuring of local authority youth servicesRestructuring of local authority youth servicesShortfall of qualified youth workersShortfall of qualified youth workersThe fall, rise and fall of the voluntary sectorThe fall, rise and fall of the voluntary sector

What is bringing about these What is bringing about these changes?changes?

Government Driven AgendaGovernment Driven Agenda-Every Child Matters-Every Child Matters-Aiming high – 10 year youth strategy-Aiming high – 10 year youth strategy-Integrated services -Integrated services -Commissioning of public services -Commissioning of public services - Involvement of young people in policy development- Involvement of young people in policy development- development of new partnerships- development of new partnerships- greater role for the voluntary sector- greater role for the voluntary sector- emphasis on training and qualifications for youth work - emphasis on training and qualifications for youth work staff to work in multi-agency environmentsstaff to work in multi-agency environments

Government Policy on Youth Government Policy on Youth 1999-Present1999-Present

Connexions Strategy

Resourcing Excellent

Youth Services

Every Child Matters

Children Act

ECM Next Steps

Youth Matters Green Paper

Youth Matters

Next StepsCharities

Act

Feb 20

00

Dec 2

002

Sept 2

003

July 2

005

Mar 2

006

Nov 2

006

July 1

999

Spring

2001

Jan 20

03

July 2

004

April

2005

Feb 20

06

Oct 2

006

July 2

007

Bridging the Gap

Transforming Youth Work

Laming Report

5 Year Strategy for

Children and Lerners

Education Act

Education and

Inspections Act

Local Government White Paper "Strong and Prosprous

Communities"

Aiming High 10 Year Strategy

Nov 2

004

Where are we now?Where are we now?

Every Child Matters and Youth MattersEvery Child Matters and Youth Matters

Integrated services/Children’s Trusts Integrated services/Children’s Trusts

Extended SchoolsExtended Schools

Positive activitiesPositive activities

Wholesale restructuring of public servicesWholesale restructuring of public services

Significant changes in the way that youth work Significant changes in the way that youth work is deliveredis delivered

Time of great uncertainty, challenge and Time of great uncertainty, challenge and opportunityopportunity