All simple enough questions, and useful starting points when thinking about Youth Work Week, 1 to 7 November. Every year in the first week of November, local youth services and youth work organisations use the week to promote their work. It's a chance to reflect on questions such as those above and come up with activities - whether it's programme ideas for young people or public relations exercises aimed at politicians, other professionals or the wider community - that can provide illumination.
Each year, The National Youth Agency (NYA) suggests a theme and this year it's Promoting the Voice and Influence of Young People. Chief executive Fiona Blacke explains this is an area in which youth work has often provided a lead to public services. "Youth work has consistently helped provide a platform for young people and worked to help develop their skills and confidence to express themselves," she comments. "Crucially, youth workers have also influenced other organisations - not least government - to become more receptive to the influence of young people."
The NYA has produced a free online information pack that gives background to the week and includes content such as case studies of "what's changed" through voice and influence work, ideas for events people could stage, key facts and figures, a summary of recent public policy developing young people's participation and listings for further reading.
This year the week is set to make a particular impact following the decision of 11 Million, the office of the children's commissioner for England, to move its Takeover Day to 7 November, forming a natural climax to the week. Takeover Day is a chance to involve young people at many different levels in the organisations that affect their lives. Last year saw more than 10,000 children and young people take the opportunity to work alongside decision-makers in local authorities, public services and private companies.
The Youth Work Week 2008 information pack is available on www.nya.org.uk. For more details of Takeover Day visit www.11million.org.uk.
- Tim Burke is associate editor of Youth Work Now. He can be contacted at timb@nya.org.uk.
