1. Introduction
The role of youth work
Through this consultation we aim to gather views and ideas from young people and others on key aspects of youth work today and in the future. These responses will be analysed and used by Ministers to develop a National Strategy for Youth Work.
We have included a series of questions on key issues in youth work. While we will particularly appreciate your views on the key questions, we will welcome and carefully consider all your comments and views.
Youth work is already helping to make our vision for young people a reality. The projects that we highlight in this paper give examples of local authority and voluntary sector youth work that is helping to make this happen now. We want to see local authorities, the voluntary sector and others working closely together in community planning partnerships (for example, through community learning and development partnerships and children's services planning), or in other effective ways to make sure that young people have a range of positive opportunities in their local areas.
We want to make sure that young people can:
- access the information they need;
- participate in high quality experiences and opportunities;
- be empowered and engaged in youth and community activities; and
- have their informal learning activities recognised.
What do we mean by youth work?
There has been much debate about what youth work is and what makes it different from other work with young people. Working and learning together to build stronger communities defines it as 'Engaging with young people to facilitate their personal, social and educational development and enable them to gain a voice, influence and a place in society'.
The values of youth work match the purposes of education and are at the heart of this debate, raising the confidence of individuals, their contribution to society, and their value as citizens. These values are:
- empowerment of young people;
- equality and inclusion;
- respect for all young people;
- involvement of young people in decision-making;
- partnership; and
- voluntary participation.
YouthLink Scotland have worked with the sector to produce a Statement on the nature and purpose of youth work. This identifies 11-25 as the age range for youth work and we are keen to involve young people in this age range in the consultation.
Traditionally, youth work has been seen as essentially voluntary for the people who take part, and that remains true for most young people. However, youth work methods are used more and more in different contexts. For example, they may be used in delivering aspects of the school curriculum, with young people in prison or with young people referred by health or social work professionals. As a result, the idea of voluntary participation as an essential element of youth work has become less clear-cut.
Q1: Should it always be for a young person to decide whether they want to take part in a youth work activity?
Q2: Do you have any examples to share of good youth work?
Who benefits from youth work?
Youth work opportunities can add value to the lives of all young people, helping them develop lasting skills and attributes. But youth work can particularly affect the lives of young people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, or who are most challenged by school. It can help to build confidence, provide role models, open up new experiences and stop people from feeling alienated or excluded. There are differing views on whether resources and effort should be concentrated on improving provision for all young people or targeted on opportunities for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable.
Q3: To what extent should youth work opportunities be generally available to all young people, or be targeted at those who are particularly vulnerable or disadvantaged?
Who provides youth work opportunities?
Youth work opportunities - both targeted provision and those open to all - are provided by a wide range of voluntary organisations and also through local authorities. Many voluntary organisations (for example, uniformed organisations or those working with special interest groups) are largely self-funding with some headquarters or capital support coming from public funds. They depend heavily on volunteers to deliver their services. Youth work opportunities offered by local authorities (for example, local youth clubs) are mainly run by paid staff. We encourage organisations that provide youth work opportunities for young people to have a child protection policy in place.
Q4: To what extent will different types of youth work or youth organisations require different treatment in the National Youth Work Strategy?
The importance of volunteers
Volunteers make an immense contribution to delivering opportunities for young people. However, work and family pressures can sometimes make regular commitment difficult. We recognise the need to support volunteers and leaders and encourage new volunteers to give their time. We also recognise the need to do what we can to present a modern and positive image of youth work which will attract volunteers and young people alike.
The Executive is particularly keen to support young people in taking up volunteering opportunities for the benefit
of their communities and for their own personal development. Our Volunteering Strategy includes a commitment
'to ensure that young people are enthused by, and involved in, volunteering'. The First Minister launched Project Scotland in May 2005 to facilitate and support high quality full-time volunteering opportunities for 16-25 year olds. It complements the part-time volunteering programme for young people, Millennium Volunteers.
Q5: How do we attract and retain more volunteers to help deliver youth work opportunities?
Links with other areas
While youth work is a recognised discipline in itself, it has clear links with schools and other services for young people, such
as physical and mental health provision. There have been successful examples of youth workers working in schools and of beneficial links with organisations engaged in sport, music, the arts, environmental issues and community and charity work.
We are keen to encourage positive links which lead to better facilities, better services and more opportunities for young people.
Q6: How can better links be forged with schools and other providers to improve the opportunities available to young people?
Q7: What particular skills can youth workers bring to work within or around schools, especially to keep young people engaged?
Case Study: Nurtured partnership drugs initiative: young carers' projects
Youth work projects can be in a unique position to give emotional and practical support to young people facing difficulties. Provision for young carers provides a good example of this, giving practical and emotional support, supporting their development and increasing their confidence.
Borders Young Carers is a Partnership Drugs Initiative ( PDI) funded project based in Galashiels. It offers one-to-one support, respite and group activities, providing transport where necessary. This project has worked with a local youth theatre on a video to be used in schools to raise awareness of young carers' needs and let others in a similar position know about the support on offer.
In one case, two young carers were referred to the project when they were taken into foster care because of their mum's heroin addiction. After three years they were able to return to live with their mum. She felt that the support of the project had been vital in helping her and her children rebuild their family life free from drugs.
East Ayrshire Young Carers, based in Kilmarnock and Cumnock, has explored different ways of supporting young carers. These include basing a worker in a GP's surgery and using a facility specially for their use - a cottage on the edge of a park. A group for 18 - 25 year olds helps with the transition to adult services, further education and employment opportunities.
One 13 year old girl cares for her mum, a recovering addict, and younger sister. This can be very stressful and the project is working with her on ways of managing her anger and boosting her self-confidence. She has identified gymnastics as a particular interest in her personal development plan. The project is helping her to get funding and support to take part in extra gym classes.
Polmont Young Offenders Institute: outlet youth centre
YouthLink Scotland have been delivering youth work services in the Outlet Youth Centre in Polmont since November 1999. The aim of the project is to enhance the personal and social development of young offenders and to assist with their integration back into the community. Prison Service staff have now been trained to deliver the service which young people take part in voluntarily.
The youth work services include the following:
- A Peer Literacy programme which trains young people to help other young people with reading and writing;
- 'A Culture of Two Halves' Anti-sectarianism DVD developed and produced by young people in Polmont to raise awareness and reduce prejudice in the Institution;
- Music, Art and Drama - an arts programme which contributes in a structured way to the personal and social development of young people involved. The highlights include bi-annual plays performed by young people to their peers, families and friends;
- Life skills for the Community - a programme looking at individual rights and responsibilities, community responsibility and offending behaviour by exploring the impact on individuals, families, victims and communities by examining alternatives;
- Duke of Edinburgh's Award - young people are able to complete most of the bronze award at Polmont, ready
to do the required expedition when they leave. Eighteen young people have now achieved their bronze award; - Transitional support for young people leaving Polmont is organised by the Outlet Centre in partnership with youth workers from the young people's home area. By making links with youth workers in their home area prior to release, they can be sure of support on their return to the community.