Youth workers launch campaign for a return to core principles

By Janaki Mahadevan Thursday, 23 April 2009

Around 80 people involved in the youth workforce have signed up to a campaign calling for a return to traditional youth work values.

Youth worker and young people. Credit: Phil Adams

The open letter, In Defence of Youth Work, criticises the government's drive to impose an "instrumental framework" on youth work. It claims Prime Minster Gordon Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair have embraced "predictable and prescribed outcomes".

Tony Taylor, who has been involved in youth work for around 40 years, is spearheading the campaign.

The letter states: "Thirty years ago, youth work aspired to a special relationship with young people. It wanted to meet young women and men on their terms.

"Three decades later, youth work is close to abandoning this distinctive commitment. Today it sides with the state's agenda."

It questions the focus on delivering accredited outcomes, which it says undermines the importance of relationships in youth work, and criticises the "suffocating grip of rules and regulations" on the workforce.

But Susie Roberts, chief executive of the Confederation of Heads of Young People's Services (formerly Apyco) said the letter does not recognise the positive impact youth work has had in recent years.

She said: "The argument needs to focus on promoting youth work, and be more explicit about the outcomes of youth work intervention. We don't need to be defensive because most people now recognise the contribution youth workers make in young people's lives.

"For years youth services have appointed young people in senior positions," added Roberts. "This model is now being implemented across the public sector. We have impacted hugely on institutions across the country. This is something we should be proud to promote."

According to the letter, among the practices that need to be reaffirmed are the freedom for young people to enter into youth work as they wish, a commitment to conversations with young people, and ensuring they play a full part in decisions.

Bill Cox, president of the Federation for Detached Youth Work and Doug Nicholls, general secretary of the Community and Youth Workers' Union, are among the campaign's supporters.