The Youth Service is a specialist provider of social and informal education for young people aged 11 - 25 years with a particular focus on the 13 - 19 year-old age group.
Youth work is essentially educational and interventionist. Its aims are the personal and social development of young people. Whilst it must adapt to meet changing needs there are certain unchanging principles which form the core of youth work.
- Equality of opportunity
- Informal education
- Empowerment
- Participatory
Youth work aims to recognise the special needs of young people in society and to promote work to support them through the transition to adulthood.
Youth work is complementary to the formal education provision available to young people. It is a partnership between the statutory and voluntary sectors which aims to encourage young people to understand and act on the personal, social, intellectual, political, moral, emotional and physical issues which affect their lives, the lives of others and the communities of which they are part. It does this through a process that is freely chosen and empowers them to take control over their lives.
What we aim to do
The aims of youth work include enabling young people to:
- Develop self-awareness
- Develop self-confidence
- Develop competence in relationships
- Develop spiritual and cultural awareness
- Make informed decisions, choices and independent judgements
- Challenge prejudice and promote equality of opportunities
- Actively explore, understand and express their opinions and values
- Effect change and exercise power and authority responsibly
Putting it into practice
The aims of youth work are achieved by voluntary and statutory organisations using a variety of means, including:
- Youth clubs and voluntary groups, outreach and detached work, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, advice services, residential work, outdoor pursuits, community services, exchanges
- A balanced informal education programme which is not only challenging, stimulating and enjoyable, but which addresses those issues which are of concern to all young people - in particular to those who may be at risk
- Participation by young people in the planning, management and operation of their organisations and programmes
- A safe and secure environment which enables young people to have personal relationships with adults and other young people
- Heightening awareness of and developing work with disadvantaged young people and those with special needs arising from, for example unemployment, homelessness, disability, rural and inner city settings, lone parent families, and learning difficulties
- Ensuring access to and ability to use relevant information, advice and counselling services
- Acceptance and understanding of individuals' differences which may spring from their culture, race, sexuality, language, gender, age, religion or class and recognition of the mutual enrichment of this diversity
- Encouraging and participating in a co-operative response to the needs of young people and with other agencies and services
- Monitoring and evaluating the work and thus influencing further development