Youth work practice needs to be guided by a youth work policy that …

is developed on the basis of relevant and updated knowledge on young people’s needs, rights and interests as well as on new research and the different forms and methods of youth work that can be used in order to meet aims and objectives.

In order to be knowledge-based, policy development must start from a clear and commonly understood picture of the current state of play. In order to achieve this, there must be clear and well-established procedures for analysing and taking into account the follow up and evaluation of local preconditions, work processes and outcomes.

Starting from this analysis and in order to be able to take relevant steps, all stakeholders must also be well informed about, discuss and consider:

The living situation and needs of all different groups of young people concerned.
The different forms and methods of youth work that can be used in order to meet aims and objectives.
Research and new trends in the field of youth and youth work.

Without this knowledge policy risks to be formed by purely personal opinions and, no longer valid, presumptions.

Do you agree on what this means in practice?
Do you agree on to what degree youth work meets this bullet point?
Here you find the questions you need to discuss to find out!

If you think that this is something you need to work on, click the “Add to development agenda” button below. You will then find your agenda on your personal page and be able to start a development process.

Please note!
If you start a development process related to this bullet point you will find the below questions also under the page “Discuss and assess”. There you will also be able to take notes.

Questions to discuss

Is our local youth work policy based on
- A thorough follow up and evaluation of the current state of play, including how youth work is perceived by different groups of young people?
- Up-to-date information on young people’s various needs and interests?
- Up-to-date information on new methods and tools for youth work?
- Up-to date research on young people and youth work?
What are the risks of developing policy without having this kind of knowledge?

References & tips

“Youth policy should be evidence-based. Better knowledge and understanding of the living conditions, values and attitudes of young women and men needs to be gathered and shared with other relevant policy fields so as to enable appropriate and timely measures to be taken.” EU Council Resolution on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018), 2009