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What is Youth Work?
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What is Youth Work?

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Community and Youth Work

July 2010 | 192 pages | Learning Matters
With the proposed development of the 'youth professional' and the consolidation of graduate professional qualifications, this is an important time for youth work. This book sets out the current state of debate about youth work for those considering, or about to embark on, a degree course. Contemporary debates in youth work are explored, and help to give students a sense of its history and its future contribution. By combining the experience of its editors and the contemporaneous experience of the voices of contributors, this book provides an excellent introduction to work as a youth worker in the twenty-first century.
 
What do we mean by youth work?
 
Policy analysis: a first and vital skill of practice
 
Participation
 
Youth work as border pedagogy
 
Detached youth work
 
Creativity and partnership
 
Youth work practice within integrated youth support services
 
Targeting for youth workers
 
Developing global literacy and competence in youth work
 
Youth work with girls: a feminist perspective
 
Anti-racism to community cohesion
 
Youth work and the surveillance state
 
Youth work prospects: back to the future?

"The book attempts the almost impossible task of answering the question: what is youth work? It provides a thorough observation of the diversity and ever-changing nature of contemporary youth work, enriched by an interesting history. This is achieved via language the layman can understand, whilst managing to stimulate debate for current and future practitioners." (Training Team, Wrexham Youth Service)


This book covers some useful and interesting topics and introduces some of the key concepts youth work students need to be aware of. Students on our course may use this book to look further into particular sub-topics in which they have a particular interst. For students at Level 3 we have found that there are alternatives available that offer information across a similar breadth of introductory youth work topics in a somewhat more straight forward and easy to digest format.

Mrs Ally Lee-Dudley
Training, 4Youth
March 3, 2016

A text that offers a contemporary view upon youth work today. Offering a historical perspective from its contributors it develops a comparative approach for the youth work practitioner and student alike. It offers a wide range of youth work themes and topics from both professionals and academics including key thinkers.

Mr Ian Jones
Health, Community & Social Care, Bradford College
June 13, 2015

This book is perfect for new students embarking on a Youth and Community course. It uses layman terms language and offers a wide range of activities which give the students the opportunity to put theory into practice.

Mrs Joanne Lewis
Community Health, Health and Applied Social Sciences
December 11, 2014

This is a recommended read for my Level 3 health and social care students wanting to go into youth work. It gives a good basis and introduction to youth work and the reason that youth workers are so important.

Miss Tracy Robson
Community Studies, College Road
September 21, 2014

Really great book which give a good grounding for youth work, its processes and why we have the profession. I have recommended to my level 3 youth students.

Miss Katey Ribchester
Health and Social Care, Ethos College
March 4, 2014

An introduction to current youth work practice, charting its history and anticipating future developments and directions. Relevant to students of youth work.

Ms Helene Baker
counse, City Lit
February 21, 2013

Fantastic book, some useful chapters for module in particular 'What do we mean by youth work?', sessions set for participation which will also recommend this book for. Have lectures comming up on types of youth work so will be used for detached and targeted.

Miss Natalie Dowling
Institute of Eucation and Public Services, Gloucestershire University
February 20, 2013

A useful text for framing youth work in the broader context of of the children nad young people's work force.

Mrs Kate Hutson
Child Studies, York College
July 9, 2012

A great book that all youth and community workers - in practice and in training should be aware of. This text has been adopted as a core text for the BA Hons in Youth and Community Work.

Mr Pat Norris
Faculty of Education & Theology, York St John University College
March 16, 2012

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