The group was set up in 2009 to champion youth work “as a distinctive educational practice”.
But at an open meeting of its steering group in Manchester this month the group decided to stop its operations.
“It was agreed that IDYW had run its course, having lost its impetus and energy,” said a statement from the group.
It added that while it “will cease to be an organised presence in the youth work arena” its online activity campaigning on youth work issues will be archived.
The group’s former coordinator Tony Taylor will be “keeper of the records” and “will welcome approaches from students, academics, researchers and practitioners seeking to explore our books”, added the statement.
In addition, the group’s 6,800 strong Facebook group will continue. While its page “has lost touch with its original purpose of encouraging debate” focused on IDYW policy, it has evolved as a forum to share “information and ideas about youth work in general”, said its statement.
“It is clearly an important resource and a marketplace for youth workers and projects,” added the statement.
“Respecting this our moderators will continue to keep watch on its contents and are considering ways of perhaps filtering the daily waterfall of varied content," it said.
Among work by the group over the last 13 years has been the publication of a book of case studies called This is Youth Work: Stories from Practice showing how youth work improves young people’s lives.
This focuses on building trust and relationships with young people and the support youth workers offer.
Meanwhile, in 2018 IDYW campaigned for the government to redirect funding from its National Citizen Service social action programme to revive local youth services, which have been hit by severe funding cuts over the last decade.
This proposal was part of a 16-point pledge by the group on developing a future vision for youth services in the UK.
