Youth work is value based and its core principles are that it needs…

to be based on voluntary participation – on young people being active in youth work out of their own will and motivation

Voluntary participation is the basis and necessary pre-requisite for youth work, mentioned in all major European policy documents. An activity where young people are forced to take part could, however good it might be, never be characterised as youth work.

Youth work could be carried out also, for example, in schools or prisons, but is ceases to be youth work if young people participate for other reasons than their own will and motivation.

Discuss & assess
Here you find the questions you need to ask yourself to know if you need to develop and the assessment function
Set objectives
Here you describe what you want to achieve.
Needs
Here you describe what you need to acquire, develop or change.
Actions to take
Here you describe the actions you plan to take.

Remember! Development is far from always a linear process! It needs to start with discussions, but the first ‘Action to take’ might be to gather more knowledge before setting aims for development and deciding on further actions to take. Dare to be both flexible and to take one step back before taking two steps forward!

References & tips

“Youth work is based on non-formal and informal learning process and on voluntary participation”.
EU Council Conclusions on the contribution of quality youth work to the development, well-being and social inclusion of young people, 2013
“The design and delivery of youth work are underpinned by the principles of voluntary and active participation”.
Council of Europe, Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on youth work, 2017