Brew, who was in 1946 employed by the National Association of Girls' Clubs, became convinced through her work in clubs, settlements, community centres and adult education of the need for investment in the education of young people "beyond the classroom". Her experiences also persuaded her that, although we should take account of age-related needs, there was not very much that set youth work apart from other non-formal educational activity. Rather, she saw it as being located within a family of educational approaches.
The lively no-nonsense prose betrays her intention to deliver a text for the informed, inquisitive practitioner. Brew forcefully argues that our focus must be on cultivating the educated person; that within every human activity lies the potential for meaningful learning; that we must seek to work with people's interests and enthusiasms and be willing to go where they are; that we must harness the desire of individuals for social relationships and a civic role; and that informal educators must be erudite, culturally informed and stimulating company, able to exploit the educational potential of conversation and experience.
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