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

is developed within the framework of, and in compliance with, the core principles stated above.

This compliancy with the core principles should embrace both the development process as such and its outcome. Making local youth work policy comply with the core principles might of course also lead to the need to revise existing aims and objectives. The core principles could hence be seen also as a reference document in relation to which existing policy documents can be analysed and discussed.

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 there a local youth work policy that explicitly states guiding principles?
- If yes, are these principles in line with the core principles in the charter?
- If yes, are there core principles from the charter that are missing?
- If yes, are there principles that are contradictory to the core principles in the charter?
- If no, what risks are there in lacking clearly stated guiding principles?
- If no, are there implicit or hidden principles that should be made explicit?

References & tips

The design and delivery of youth work are underpinned by the principles of voluntary and active participation, equality of access, openness and flexibility. It should be rights-based, inclusive and centred on young people, their needs and abilities.”
Council of Europe, Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on youth work, 2017