Who am I? Why am I here? Is there a God? Why do people die? These are all perfectly natural questions for inquisitive young minds to ask. They're also not the types of questions that can easily be answered in a simple sentence or by recommending a helpline.
Responding to the "bigger questions" about faith and the meaning of life have had a place in youth work since the foundations of modern-day youth work were laid by the Christian youth clubs in the 19th century. But in these days of target-driven youth work, is spiritual development all too often overlooked?
Speaking to Young People Now earlier this year, Youssif Meah, Birmingham City Council's lead officer on extremism and the city's former principal youth officer, said he felt that perhaps youth services "have shied away from the spiritual" in the past. The net result being that young people's more extremist views had gone unchallenged by professionals ideally placed to offer balanced advice.
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