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HOLA!
Working with Young People
The Value of Youth Work in the European Union
March 16th 2015
GAZTEMATIKARI BIDEA ZABALTZENPrepared for:
4
Why this study?
23%
Young people face a number of risks:
6% 17%
Youth unemployment rate
6% rise in youth unemployment since 2007
18-24 NEET EU-27 2012
At EU level, young people have long been on the policy agenda
EU commitment recently strengthened
Youth work is an investment in young people
5
Method
The study at a glanceExamine the scale, scope and value of different forms of youth work across the EU
for young people
Landscape of youth work
activities across the EU
How youth work contributes to EU objectives in the field of youth
Identify the critical success factors that underpin effective
youth work
Explore success stories illustrating how youth
work contributes to change
Country mapping/reports
in every EU Member State
EU level interviews
Case-studies
Literature review
SWOT analysisComparative analysis
Value of the sector across
the EU
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Youth work – What are we talking about?AIM: To offer young people meaningful activities based on the needs and interests of
young people
Bord
ers
with
ot
her p
olic
ies
Met
hods
Type
s
Org
anis
ation
s
Activ
ities
7
Please tell me 10 words that characterise youth work
110 interviewees from the field (youth work organisations)
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What is youth work expected to provide?Meaningful activities based on young persons' needs and interests. Key features of the methods used by youth work are:• Non-formal and informal learning• Participatory and/or experiential pedagogy• Relationship-based activities (learning as a social activity with others)• Mentoring and/ or peer support
Youth work aims at young person's personal development
in particular it leads to:• self-determination• self-confidence • self-esteem• socialisation Personal development should lead to:
• Empowerment• Emancipation• Tolerance• Responsibility
These should in turn result in• Participation in democratic
societies• Prevention of risk
behaviours• Social inclusion and
cohesion
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Youth work – The legal framework and governance
Who is responsible?• Ministries for
education• Social affairs, children,
family welfare• Culture, sport and
youth
Legal Framework
Funding
Set the conditions/requirements for funding and
the eligibility of organisations to draw down public funding
Definitions
Defining youth work, youth
work activities, and youth
organisations and the
recognition of youth activities
Responsible Bodies
Identifying (or establishing) the bodies
responsible for youth work
Requirements for recognition
Requirements and
responsibilities of those who
wish to be recognised as
providing youth activities
Cros
s-go
vern
men
t gov
erna
nce
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Youth work – Political landscape
Policies Funding
Thematic priorities
Core prioritiesTarget disadvantage
Preventative youth workQuality youth work
Evidence-based practiceYouth work infrastructure
Active participation
Education and training
Health and well-beingVolunteering
Arts and Culture
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CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
Growing demandChanging age groups
CHANGING EMPHASIS
NEW AND DIFFERENT FORMATS
OnlineNew spacesNew technologies Decrease in traditional formsCollaboration with formal sector
Youth work – Trends during the last decade
Intervention based youth workShift from leisure to education and training
PROFESSIONALISATIONProfessionalisedStandards/TrainingVulnerable groups
EVIDENCE BASED
Return on investmentAccountability systems
COLLABORATION
Capacity buildingAccess to young peopleCreating influence
FINANCING AND FUNDING
More targeted, Linked to outcomes
INCREASING IMPORTANCE
Youth Policy FrameworksChanging policy paradigm
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Youth work – Who are youth workers?
Engaged in professional
development (often training offered by their organisations)
Volunteers or Remunerated staff – increasingly professional
Motivations:• Contributing to
the personal development of young people;
• Empowering young people;
• Learning from young people;
• Sharing the same common goals and/or beliefs
In need of greater recognition but
opportunities are increasingly offered
Conservative estimate: there are over 1.7 million youth workers in the EUThey are the key ingredient that makes youth work add value to young people and the society
13
Youth work – Outcomes
Data Reach of youth work
Target groups
1 young person in 2 took part in some form of organised activity in
past 12 months
1 in 5 took part in youth club, leisure club, youth organisation activities
Eurobarometer data (2013)
Comparable data is not available
Where existent national data has important shortcomings (based on membership or participation in discrete activities, no break downs)
But reach can be expected to be important based on this Eurostat data:
But who is being reached?Mostly younger cohorts
Young people in urban areas
Insufficient reach of:
18+Rural areas
Migrant backgroundMinority groups
Disadvantaged
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Youth work – OutcomesIndividual level:
Develop skills and competences in a diverse range of areas (their human capital);
Strengthen their network and social capital;
Adapt particular behaviours;
Build positive relationships.
More generally:
Part of local areas social fabric – space for contact, exchange and engagement ;
Activities that are valuable in their own right
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Youth work – OutcomesEducation
and training
non-cognitive skills
better academic outcomes
alternative pathways for dropouts
educational/career guidance
opportunities for further development
Employment/ entrepreneur
ship
transversal skills demanded on labour market
Opportunity to practice skills in real settings
orientation of young people
matching young people and jobs
Health and well
being
Access to information and trusted advice
Changes in attitudes and behaviours
Raises self-awareness
Improved well-being
Participation
participation and involvement in democratic processes
Raises awareness
Develops critical thinking
Empowers young people
opportunity for self-expression
Volunteering
frequently volunteer led;
Fosters solidarity
voluntary engagement later on in life
Social inclusion
socialisation & a safe environment
Prevents exclusion
Targets specific groups
Combats negative perception of specific groups among general public
Youth and the world
Develops a skill set and attitudes
Raises awareness of human rights, development, global themes
Provides education for sustainable development
Culture
cultural participation
space for expression and creativity
intercultural understanding, health, well-being
Broad personal development impact
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Youth work – Let’s talk about successYouth
Worker/Young
person relationshi
p
Sustainability and
partnership
Experience life, make mistakes,
participate
Youth driven
learning and
autonomy
Commitment
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Youth work – Elements of successful youth work practice
Flexibility, accessibility and adapting to the needs of young people
Active outreach to
young people in need
of support
Learning opportunities and a
framework for goal setting
and recognition
Involve young people in
decision making and design
of activities
Reaching out to schoolsBuild partnerships
with other actors
Provide safe and supportive environment for personal
development
Enjoyable and fun setting for creativity and self-expression
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Youth work – Conclusions
Diverse forms of youth work covering a broad range of areas and topics
There are public funding programmes and policies
EU level support
Regulatory frameworks that govern provision
BUT
Gaps in the reach of youth work
Visibility of the sector
Lack of data and robust evaluations
Clear frameworks for professional development of youth workers largely absent
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http://ec.europa.eu/youth/news/2014/20140219-youth-work-study_en.htm
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