Youth work must avoid isolationism

19 May 2009 1 min read Ravi Chandiramani Youth Work Editorial

De Montfort University's inquiry on the impact of government policies on youth work has added to the sense of unease expressed in Tony Taylor's open letter, In Defence of Youth Work, that its core principles are under threat.

This week we ask a number of experts to evaluate these concerns.

The anxieties themselves derive partly from the fact that the more eye-catching, headline-grabbing - and crucially, properly funded - initiatives that involve youth workers target certain groups of young people deemed to be "troubled", "vulnerable", "at risk" or whatever administrative label is flavour of the month. Our feature this week on non-negotiable support offers one such example of these initiatives. Such targeted youth support defies youth work's cherished value that the relationship between young person and youth worker is voluntary. It may not be youth work in its purest form, granted, but targeted support calls on a number of youth work skills to build relationships with young people.

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