In Defence of Youth Work This is Youth Work: Stories from Practice Published by In Defence of Youth Work Designed and printed by UNISON 3. Twelve youth work stories

2 Contents

Acknowledgements 5 Beyond aggression to eye contact: Struggling for trust in a city centre drop in 26 1. Setting the Scene 6 2. Context 9 Beyond stereotype and prejudice: Developing youth work with traveller 3. Twelve youth work stories 12 young women 28

As seen by the youth worker As seen by young people Holding onto your dignity: Supporting ‘I wouldn’t be the person I am today’: Black young people harassed by the police 12 One young man on why young people need youth clubs 32 ‘On the boundary’: Three years detached work with a group of young women 15 A modest journey in self-discovery: Reflections on a mentoring ‘resi’ 33 Creative improvisation: A youth work response to ‘knife crime’ 17 Surviving, learning and growing: The youth centre as sanctuary. 34 Pen and paper youth work 20 4. Practising 37 The power of graffiti: Detached youth work in a town centre ‘hot spot’ 21 5. What future for youth work? 48 6. Campaigning and educating 49 Getting accredited: Youth work as a virtual trip ‘down under’ 23 Further information 51

Casual – or informal?: Coffee bar careers advice 25

3 3. Twelve youth work stories

4 Acknowledgements

As the In Defence of Youth The young people who agreed to be The Youth & Policy editorial Work (IDYW) ‘Stories’ filmed for the DVD. collective who, having published some of the booklet material, project has throughout The workers who – in some cases readily agreed to to it being been a collective effort, through many drafts – provided republished. thanking a long list of such telling insights into youth work practice. The many IDYW activitists whose individuals doesn’t seem energy and enthusiasm have made appropriate. However, The institutions and organisations the whole initiative possible. the contributions must be and their staff who sponsored acknowledged of: ‘stories’ events and supported And last but not least the pioneers workers in writing them up. of the past, who laid the foundations for an emancipatory youth work and Heather Johnson of Regenesis today’s young people, youth workers Media for her creativity in putting and communities, who through together the DVD. their protests and struggles have shown their commitment Jethro Brice for his unique and to defending and extending this thought-provoking illustrations. democratic inheritance.

The UNISON and Unite/CYWU unions and their officers who have shown such commitment to the project.

5 3.1. Twelve Setting youth work stories the scene

What is Youth Work? The growing unease about this Report of the Education Select very threat to the future of open Committee into youth services For those involved in doing it, and pluralist youth work led to confirms, are leading in one local whether voluntary or paid, whatever the creation of the In Defence authority after another to the their ideological differences, there of Youth Work (IDYW) Campaign disappearance of youth work as has long been a consensus. It back in March 2009. Composed of informal education. ought to be founded on a voluntary part-time and full-time workers engagement with young people across the voluntary and state Against this tide of reaction our in their leisure time. It ought to sectors, managers, lecturers Campaign reaffirms its belief in a be informal and educational, and researchers, our grass- democratic and emancipatory youth focused on the personal, social and roots organisation has sought to work, whose cornerstones are: political awareness of the young challenge the imposition upon the people drawn to its provision. Over contradictory, creative process of n The sanctity of the voluntary the last twenty years successive youth work of its very antithesis: principle; the freedom for governments have undermined prescribed and predictable young people to enter into and these defining characteristics. outcomes. Nevertheless the withdraw from Youth Work as Armed with an often negative instrumental agenda prevails. The they so wish. view of youth they have introduced Coalition encourages an increasing an increasingly narrow raft of emphasis on early intervention n A commitment to conversations measures, whereby youth work programmes aimed at young with young people which start has been pushed ever nearer to people deemed to be recalcitrant from their concerns and within being no more than an agency of or at risk. Youth workers disappear which both youth worker and behavioural modification or the and become youth social workers young person are educated and mere provider of predetermined with a case-load of problematic out of which opportunities for ‘positive activities’. individuals in need of correction. new learning and experience To compound matters the drastic can be created. public expenditure cuts, as the

6 1. Setting the scene

n The importance of association, n The essential significance of authoritarianism and a fear of the massive management-led effort of fostering supportive the youth worker themselves, unpredictable and creative. to sidestep the dilemma of how to relationships, of encouraging whose outlook, integrity and measure changes in personal and the development of autonomy is at the heart We see ourselves, whether paid or collective consciousness. Rather autonomous groups and ‘the of fashioning a serious yet voluntary, as informal educators than grappling with the question sharing of a common life’. humorous, improvisatory yet contributing to ‘the common good’. it has been easier to concentrate rehearsed educational practice Thus the need to be accountable on numbers attending or contacts n A commitment to valuing and with young people. to elected representatives, made, reassuring to insist that attending to the here-and-now management, communities and the youth work experience of young people’s experience Of course there are other forms especially young people themselves be shoehorned into forms of rather than just focusing on of work with young people, but is fully recognised, which is where engagement that can be accredited. ‘transitions’. defining these as youth work our Stories Project comes in. From In this way a mass of data has been confuses rather than clarifies the the beginning of the Campaign we compiled. However these statistics n An insistence upon a dilemmas we face. The plethora have wanted to call the bluff on that tell us little about the quality of the democratic practice, within of targeted interventions need to feigned ignorance, which claims process and fail to put us in touch which every effort is made be named for what they are: youth youth work is a bit of a mystery and with the ups and downs of working to ensure that young people social work, youth welfare work, asks ‘how we do know it’s doing with awkward, life-enhancing real play the fullest part in making youth diversionary work, and so on. any good, giving value for money?’ human beings. decisions about anything Whilst it can be argued that some of Indeed at our very first national affecting them. these programmes are necessary conference in Manchester the The key to getting a real feel for the and that they are delivered by debate focused on how we might work is to become familiar with and n The continuing necessity of committed practitioners, they all illustrate the qualitative dimension sensitive to the profusion of tales, recognising that young people share a prescribed agenda and of a youth work practice, which small and large, that make up the are not a homogeneous group an imposed relationship. The sees young people as the active youth work saga. It is hoped that and that issues of class, gender, present demise of the youth work and critical citizens essential the sequence of stories to be found race, sexuality, disability and we seek to define and defend to an authentic democracy. In below and the context provided will faith remain central. says much about today’s creeping recent times there has been a inspire a renewed debate about how

7 1. Setting the scene

the success or otherwise of youth work is evaluated.

Getting to know whether youth work is proving to be effective or adding value will not come about by its funders or its managers sitting passively in their offices waiting for the monthly figures of inputs and outcomes. Neither will it be resolved via the use of structured questionnaires measuring well- being, the completion of which will be mandatory for young people. It will come about only if the methods used are congruent with and indeed integral to the voluntary engagement that makes youth work so distinctive as a practice with young people. It will come about only if decision-makers, youth workers and young people enter into consistent, critical conversations with one another about what makes youth work tick. It will come about only if youth work is democratic through and through.

8 2. Context 3. Twelve youth work stories

The need to spread understanding simply been ‘ceased’, they’ve been development in its current form was of the emancipatory forms of both cut to the bone - budgets for dismissed by the Select Committee youth work practice outlined in 2011-12 down by an estimated as unsupportable. ‘Setting the Scene’ and to defend £100m, jobs by 3,000 - and widely the services through which these restructured as a youth social work Though offering some positive are provided has never been more version of ‘early intervention’. The assessments of young people‘s urgent. Though the ConDem choices facing much voluntary potential and some passing government talks grandly of sector youth provision have also endorsements of their voluntary developing a youth policy, the become stark: in effect privatise participation in open-access youth June 2011 House of Commons’ as a ‘social enterprise’ and work, the Select Committee also Education Select Committee report increasingly, and uncritically, take however carried some other much on youth services made very clear on the state’s business; or cut staff less acceptable messages; in its disappointment with its ‘lack of and facilities - or go out of business. particular, its taken-for-granted urgency in articulating a … strategic assumptions that the days of direct vision’. Indeed, as this booklet To date the ConDems only state sponsorship for youth work and the accompanying DVD are identifiable commitment to ‘youth’ are over and that the only way being completed in the summer has been its so-called ‘National forward is through commissioning of 2011 youth work facilities are Citizens Service’. With a very (that is, competition) and ‘social paying a very high price for a global limited brief and reliant on low enterprises’, perhaps paid by economic crisis caused by what paid staff whose credentials are results and needing ultimately to a high level US report has called at best unclear, this, unlike Youth turn a profit on their activities. the ‘human action and inaction’ Service provision, is aimed only at of powerful financial interests. As 16-19 year olds and will operate for These assaults on both state and part of a manic drive to abandon only six or seven weeks over the voluntary sector youth services publicly-funded services, where summer. Against the background have been fiercely opposed by Youth Services haven’t (in the words of the decimation of the Youth the UNISON and Unite unions, by of Warwickshire County Council) Service nationally, its continued a ‘Choose Youth’ campaign, by

9 2. Context

voluntary organisations like the Even before the present government for example was directed largely and participated in formalised Woodcraft Folk and the British wreaked its devastation on the at retaining ‘failing’ pupils in assessment procedures, their core Youth Council and by campaigning country’s Youth Services, IDYW education. ‘Youth inclusion’ and role - engaging and developing groups like IDYW and the National had already been challenging ‘community safety’ projects by relationships with young people’s Coalition for Independent Action. New Labour policies. To meet top- definition focused on diverting self-chosen groups – was devalued. Most strikingly, young people have down targets, youth work’s focus young people from ‘anti social unambiguously asserted how much had been significantly narrowed, behaviour’. Programmes with Over time the practice was thus youth work matters to them’, with seriously undermining some of young Muslims were expected to misinterpreted and then redefined their ‘voice’ being heard in ways - its defining features. Increasingly concentrate on ‘preventing violent by agencies whose own targets it out on the streets, within council workers had been required to extremism’. was helping to meet but whose staff meetings, lobbying politicians – concentrate on pre-labelled often had little or no background in which even policy-makers in favour groups, boxing them into providing Increasingly, these priorities and understanding of youth work. of ‘empowerment’ had clearly diversionary (albeit ‘positive’) removed resources from open In buying into what they saw as the never intended. This publication activities largely designed to keep access provision - historically the youth work approach, professionals and the narratives it contains seeks young people off the streets and bedrock of youth work. Greater from other disciplines often failed to supplement and support these out of adults’ way. emphasis was placed on profiling to recognise the complex processes campaigns by presenting to that young people in advance of a youth of dialogue and shared activity and wider audience something of the This work sometimes came with worker’s contact with them and on learning between young person distinctiveness and the complexities (relatively) generous funding – from sharing their personal information and worker which were needed to of youth work, what constitutes the police, housing associations, with other professionals. These achieve the outcomes they wanted quality practice, how it contributes the Youth Justice Board, even trends were exacerbated by New – and which the stories presented in to outcomes young people value and anti-terrorist budgets. However, as Labour’s integration of youth the booklet seek to illustrate. ‘society’ seeks - and why therefore funders demanded quite specific workers into multi-disciplinary public policy should continue to ‘outcomes’, scope for responding teams most often focused on However, while resisting this support and fund this practice, its to young people’s concerns as ‘working on’ rather than ‘with’ subversion of youth work’s practitioners and managers. they might define them was ‘challenging’ individuals. As some definition, IDYW has recognised severely reduced. Work in schools youth workers took on case loads that the benefits of this practice are

10 2. Context

not always immediately apparent, people’s bottom-line expectation - of publicly accounting for youth have been drawn out in the final perhaps particularly to a policy- that along the way fun will be had! workers’ practice, it would gather ‘Practising’ section. maker or manager from a different the ‘coal-face’ ‘stories’ which profession. When viewed from the Youth workers have sometimes follow. Guaranteeing anonymity Though most of the stories outside little may appear to be been slow in getting these and confidentiality, the stories have are recounted from a worker’s going on, especially if the setting messages out to a wider audience. come from different parts of the perspective, some capture a little is ‘merely’ recreational. This may Some indeed have been too ready to country, reflecting a range of young of how young people experience be true even when youth workers take on the jargon of funding bodies, people’s backgrounds and a variety or, looking back, have experienced are initiating and then - often suggesting that youth work can of youth work settings, aims and that practice and what they feel over long periods - sustaining meet unrealisable expectations - outcomes. While not intended to they have taken from it. These penetrating conversations with reduce teenage pregnancies by X%, stand as best practice exemplars, narratives are further strongly young people which slowly shape cut a geographical area’s first time they seek to illustrate the everyday reinforced by the testimonies ideas for a project and generate entries into the youth justice system complexity and uncertainty – the in the accompanying DVD and new practical, social and emotional by Y%, get Z% of Not in Education often ‘unfinished’ nature - of the supplemented by occasional learning. As these relationships Employment or Training (NEETs) process which so characterises quotations from the workers develop, young people may also back into education. Though youth work in action. Most were the interviewed. Taken together this begin, often drip-drip, to let go of youth work might be making its product of specially arranged day material provides campaigners with personal information, prompting contributions, direct cause and events at which, in small groups, vivid and telling evidence on how a workers to offer advice and other effect can rarely be so quantified or workers supported each other to vital and productive practice with forms of individual support. even so explicitly identified. articulate and then interrogate a young people works and why the Through these processes, too, piece of their practice which, for staff posts and expertise through young people’s awareness of social It was to counter New Labour’s them, best answered the question: which it achieves its impacts need issues may grow, leading to forms resort to the simplistic number- ‘‘How does youth work achieve its to go on being vigorously defended. of ‘religious’ and ‘citizenship’ crunching and ‘tick-boxing’ which special impact on young people and education very different from those dominated its monitoring and their lives?’ The common threads of they meet in school, all set within evaluation of youth work that IDYW the stories which together begin to an environment which meets young decided that, as an alternative way provide an answer to this question

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3. Twelve youth work stories

Holding onto your dignity: drug dealer when officers found he been some discussion between Supporting Black had two phones on him. He’d tried police and youth workers about to explain that one was his new how police could improve their young people harassed phone but had no calling credit, so poor relationships with young by the police he was still carrying his old phone people in the area. However, youth because it still had credit and not workers had been unable to find a Black young people from a large everybody had his new number. way to bring the police in without housing estate complained to Officers wouldn’t listen – they endangering the sense of ownership the local youth workers that seemed determined to find further of the youth club and its space they were constantly being evidence that he was selling drugs. which the new area youth worker stopped and searched by police, was fostering for young people. particularly if they hung around Another twelve year old told the near a local shop where some of youth workers that he’d been After talking to the young people them might be searched several stopped and searched on the street about the police action the youth times in an evening. The estate is by officers who told him they’d workers agreed to invite the predominantly white though with received complaints of a BB gun neighbourhood police team into the a significant Black community being used in the area by a ‘boy who youth club so that the young people - perhaps 15-20%. White young fits your description’. He took this could talk to them about the stop people said it also happened to to mean that they were Black. and search activity on their own them when they were out with terms. When the youth work team Black friends. The young people Youth workers themselves saw this made this decision, they invited also said that the police often happening first hand. the sergeant in to discuss how they refused to give them the stop and could work together. He brought search sheet when they asked for it. The police inspector for the area one of his colleagues, a very young had made contact with the youth beat officer. The area youth worker One fourteen year old for example workers when he had come into made it absolutely clear that said he’d been accused of being a post a year or so before. There had this would be an invitation which

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3. Twelve youth work stories

applied to that day and time only beat officers and local Police shocked that this was happening them and attending the meeting. and would not stand as an open Community Support Officers. The and shocked to hear how much They said that their parents either invitation for officers to arrive police acknowledged a number of the young people hated them as a didn’t believe them or couldn’t do unannounced in the future. She the young men by name as they result of the searches. The police anything about the stop and search. clarified what youth workers hoped entered the building. They knew the were asked to think about how it One young man said his father had to get from the session and another names because of the searches, not would feel if they were treated in been at home when he had been youth worker outlined some of the because these young people had the way that they were treating stopped and searched outside his anecdotal evidence young people criminal records or had any other these young people. own house. He was worried that his had described and why the need for reason to be ‘known’ to the police. father would be furious if he looked some reparative work had arisen. Officers were initially very defensive. out and saw what was happening. The police wanted to explain to the The young man who stated that he The young people said that the The youth project was opened for young people why they had to do hated the police had sat in silence, middle class professionals they this session outside of normal stop and search. Youth workers playing Playstation throughout knew seemed to have no idea about opening hours to make sure that reinforced messages about young the session and speaking to youth what they were feeling. the young people who came knew people’s rights and responsibilities workers but making no eye contact clearly that this was what they through a question and answer with the police. He would not have The project bought a bus pass for were attending. There were snacks session. One young man described spoken at all but one officer asked the young man who described being available and young people were how he had been humiliated by the ‘who here still hates the police after constantly stopped and searched on able to play pool and look at police police by being asked to remove meeting us all today?’ At this point his walk home every day. He lived in handcuffs. There were about his shoes and coat in public on he replied loudly ‘I do’. He went on a hostel on a long, busy road where twenty young people at the session, repeated occasions. He said how to describe how he is frequently there is a heavy police presence including about five of the Black much he hated the police as a stopped on a very busy public road and it was usually here he was young men who’d experienced stop result of this humiliation. The young and searched. stopped. This helped as he did not and search. people said that one of the officers have to walk the length of the road, at the meeting never gave them The youth workers knew that thus coming to the attention of the About eight of the neighbourhood the stop and search sheets that he the young people had made an police, but he is still being stopped police team came, including was supposed to. Some police were enormous leap of faith by trusting by the police.

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3. Twelve youth work stories

the young people’s feelings – for had made him feel that he was he fitted the description of a example, understanding why the being believed and listened to. 12 year old runaway. As he young people run when they see is very tall and heavily built, the police even though they haven’t Postscripts easily passing for being in his done anything wrong. twenties, he asked the officer 1. A young Black male youth what the description was and Retrospect worker was taking this same was told that the runaway was group of young men to the ‘Black and wearing a hat’. He The young man with the bus pass cinema as part of an alternative was able to laugh about this recently came into the centre to programme of provision for with the youth worker, saying see the youth workers (he now excluded young people. A few that the police no longer lives out of the area). He discussed minutes away from the centre succeed in humiliating him in the session and described how, the group was stopped by the way that they did. He can although it was painful at the time two PCSOs. A riot van quickly now, he feels, walk away from to be confronted in a safe forum by arrived and an officer jumped the searches with dignity. Although the searches continued those he saw as enemies, it was a out to ask where the group just as before, the young people relief to vent some of his anger. He was going and what they were feel differently. They are still recalled how the youth workers had doing. When the youth worker angry but they have heard the told him honestly that they could explained his role and the police acknowledge that they not change what was happening but purpose of their visit, the officer have rights. They know they are in that he could change his reaction. returned to his vehicle - without the right even though the police He was advised to stay calm, ask conducting a search. continue to search them. They now for a stop and search sheet after have a sense of solidarity and an the event and to discuss his feelings 2. The young man with the bus affirmation of their experiences. around the searches with them as pass was still regularly being The youth workers have shown often as he needed to. The area stopped - had, in fact, recently that they believe and understand youth worker buying him a bus pass been stopped and told that

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3. Twelve youth work stories

‘On the boundary’: aggressive reactions, particularly Through the detached work, an established friendship group Three years of detached from two of the girls, with much opportunities opened up for the gave them attention in their own of their behaviour being alcohol- workers to demonstrate acceptance, right. Over time, the dynamics of work with a group of related. In their neighbourhood offer support and follow through the group changed - they became young women their activities were causing on promises made – such as chatty, talked and also listened to ‘anarchy’, resulting in abuse to finding a football team for one each other and acted protectively to themselves and serious problems of the young women to join. The each other. for the wider community. youth workers stayed consistent in when and where they met the They also became jealous for staff The group was first engaged group, eventually responding to time with the activities they agreed through detached youth work, the girls’ need for somewhere to do often seeming less important though this was a struggle, warm and safe to go by offering to the group than spending especially on Bonfire night. them the youth centre as a meeting time with the youth workers. However, by working with the place – something which they had On occasions their professional young women as a group and requested. relationship with the youth workers taking them, on their own ‘turf’, could spill over into the personal – for who they were, conversations As they weren’t required to join an for example when, on Boxing Day, started to develop. Through these, existing group, the young women one of the young women phoned interests and strengths as well as were able to go on attending the one of the youth workers who, she needs began to emerge. One young centre as a group. They increasingly felt, was the only person able to The youth work focused on six woman for example was able to then began to make more demands help her. This for the youth worker young women whose chaotic enter into a proper dialogue while on the youth workers’ time – by for illustrated two things: how much relationships with each other and all showed a concern to improve example negotiating sessions for youth work, for it to be effective, with their families offered them their community. They also turned themselves on sexual health, drugs had to happen ‘on the boundaries’; little stability in their lives. Within up when they said they would and and alcohol. Though they weren’t and how, far from being ‘just a job’, the group, arguments tended to made their own arrangements for liked by other young people using it had to ‘go the extra mile’, remain be sorted out by threatening or meeting the youth workers. the centre, working with them as ‘open door’, on-going, unfinished.

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3. Twelve youth work stories

This piece of practice also to another in order to justify the They got involved in the Council’s built into their relationships with demonstrated to the youth workers youth work that was being done. Youth Forum, consulting with the young women to challenge how much could be developed other young people on how they them, sometimes in quite personal out of and through a small tight As a piece of face-to-face practice, saw the problems facing them, ways. When for example one of the friendship group. However, the the work was never straightforward. until eventually they became the young women seemed to be setting work never fitted easily into the One member of the group who face of the youth centre. They raised herself up to fail by applying for an local service’s approach, with other was too young to join the NEET some large sums of money for the educational course for which she workers being critical of it for programme or to take part with project and one of the group won was not yet ready, one of the youth focusing only on a small group. the other girls in an exciting sailing a young achievers award for service workers felt able, in a very up-front Nor, as it only ever involved six event was put on an ASBO and, to their community. way, to advise her to postpone young people, was it seen by after the group stopped meeting, the application until she’d got more managers as cost effective work was given a custodial sentence. In the process, their view of experience and qualifications, within the youth centre. When the Throughout however she managed themselves changed, too. No longer steering her instead towards an project manager closed it down to keep a positive relationship with did they see themselves as ‘scum’. alternative opportunity. ‘as of today’, the workers enrolled the youth centre. Individually, they started to feel the young women onto a NEET comfortable being on their own as programme and continued to work Over three years the way the their need lessened for the security with them on the streets. With the young women dealt with the of each other’s company in order young women’s achievements only pressures they faced began to to achieve what they wanted. counting once as ‘accreditation change. They did litter picks and One of the girls decided to leave outcomes’, the workers also ran a gardening programme the area as the best way to succeed had to resist a range of other and planting project, taking on while two of them went on to administrative and evaluation board that this kind of community become youth workers – a career pressures. Over the three years, engagement would challenge route opened up for one of them they also had to play a juggling the negative way they were seen after being appointed a ‘young game over funding, passing the by their wider community, the advocate’. The youth workers also group from one funding stream community wardens and the police. on occasions drew on the trust

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Creative improvisation: project described here began knife - she just allowed him to take of Greenville which also included A youth work response to when Helen, a youth worker on the the time to consider that she’d the park and the youth centre. Greenville estate, saw Adam when seen him and draw the conclusion As a black young man he therefore ‘knife crime’ she was visiting a local park with that she knew he had been carrying understood that, even though her family. In fact, it wasn’t really a knife. She didn’t see it as a test – many more young white men ‘an encounter’ as she saw him but nor did she want a definite answer. hung around the estate, he was he did not see her – or if he did he She knew that, in such situations, particularly vulnerable. didn’t let on. if a conversation with a young person was to keep going, sometimes Having the youth centre ‘on the Helen’s youth work ‘nose’ told some ambiguity in the discussion doorstep’ made a big difference her that, from the way Adam was had to be allowed to sustain a level to how the young people saw carrying himself, he was carrying of comfort and anonymity. both it and Helen. When she a knife concealed under his jacket. first started to work at the centre The next time she saw him was at Adam knew that Helen knew that there was a core group of young the youth centre. He came in, milled his brother was already in prison people of Caribbean origin. around talking to friends, played for a knife-related offence and she Whether because she was a youth pool – at no point did he approach knew the devastating impact that worker, an authority person, white, her, nor she him. However as, this had on Adam and his family. female, maybe a mixture of all of alone, he was leaving at the end A lot of ‘knowing’ was passing these, they wouldn’t acknowledge of the evening she went over to between them even though not her, wouldn’t even make eye The relationships youth workers him, asked how he was, exchanged many words had been exchanged contact. They would walk past her make in the youth centre often news. She eventually asked him if over the years. Though Adam was as if she wasn’t there, was of no do not stay in the youth centre anything was bothering him. She conscious of and sensitive to this, significance. This was their way of because, sharing the same shops, was concerned for him, she said, he was also aware that black ‘owning’ the centre, of making clear parks and streets with young because she’d seen him earlier young men were being subjected who mattered. Over the years this people, these can all become in the park. She didn’t ask him to to very high levels of stop-and- had changed as relationships and meeting places. The work and confirm or deny whether he had a search – something that was true trust grew. And, with the change,

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a mediation role developed in their Helen told the young people about Some young people were Eventually Martha talked of the relationships – with institutions the letter, suggesting they think sympathetic to Jack’s account; impact on her of seeing her brother such as schools and the police, about and respond to what Jack had for others it was just a matter beaten up by the police when she with other young people and with written about life in prison – about of – ‘if you do the crime then you was a child. That violence had left their families. not seeing your family; wondering do the time’. However, both sets emotional scars - and the violence how they were but not being able of reactions generated questions of knife crime had brought those By chance, that weekend Helen was to help or support them; watching they wanted to put to Jack, feelings back. In her eyes it was visiting Jack, a young man from people who you had thought of as demonstrating that this was a topic all violence, all of it the same, the Greenville who she’d kept contact friends slip away, leaving only a few that meant something to them and uniform not justifying any of it. with after he’d been sent to prison. who genuinely cared. He explained, which touched strong positions, When Helen was challenged by Jack had energy, charisma and a too, how it meant having every emotions and memories. One young Martha on how she was affected sharp intelligence which didn’t take letter read by a stranger before it woman, Martha, who had kept a by this issue, Helen explained that too many prisoners – but which had reached you; using the toilet as the hostile distance from Helen for as she believes everyone in society is made a prisoner of him. Though other prisoner who shared your cell long as Helen could remember, affected by the issue, whether or the ‘street’ had quickly recognised ate his meal - or vice versa; being was particularly affected and left not they live ‘on the front line’. this intelligence, his experience of naked in front of prison guards. The the discussion suddenly to go to schooling was one of struggle on letter described the repetitiveness the toilets. When Helen followed Shortly afterwards, all these which all sides had given up fairly of each day, having to keep a front her it was clear that her hostility conversations took on an even quickly. On the visit, without naming with everyone around you preserving to her hadn’t subsided – expressed greater emotive charge – and the names, Helen discussed with Jack their boundaries and themselves, in the question: “What would you work a heightened urgency - when her encounters with Adam, which all the time signalling where nobody know as a white woman?” This time a young man was murdered with a led him to suggest that he write an could tread. In all this, Category C however a shift occurred as Helen’s knife by another young man. Both open letter to the young people at prisons were the most dangerous relationship with Jack and her had strong links to Greenville. As the youth centre, telling them what because, whatever the other conversations with the others had a way of giving the young people it was like in a prison. Jack’s letter prisoners’ offence, it was big. challenged Martha’s stereotyped affected somewhere to be, the duly arrived a couple of weeks later. view of her. youth workers opened the youth centre on Sundays – so they could

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explore what they were feeling and to do in the first person – they most recent murder, a central focus respond to what had happened. were too close both to the young for the film emerged: the impact of person who had been murdered someone being stabbed on those The latest murder added a new and the young person who had around them, on all those whose poignancy to the questions the been charged with his murder. Out lives would never be the same young people wanted to ask Jack of their conversations, an idea for again. This very process provided - about his family, his feelings a film emerged which the young some catharsis for the young about the people he’d hurt, what people would script and act in with people as their emotions were he would have done differently and, the support of a professional script acted out and their feelings put into most astutely, what would have writer and film maker paid for by words and actions. It was therefore needed to be there for him to have the local authority. Even though the never mainly an exercise in learning acted differently. For confidentiality prison was supportive, the process drama, film making, editing, acting reasons it wasn’t possible to put of getting access to and filming or writing - though learning about the questions to him personally. the prisoners was lengthy and all of these did happen. Though So Helen wrote to a number of complicated, needing Helen to, in these proved important vehicles actual words of Jack’s mother, local prisons and youth offending effect, act as their administrator. they were never ends in themselves the young prisoner who wrote the services asking if the young people Eventually however the youth – as for example accreditation open letter. She tells how it feels to could put the questions to some workers met the prisoners, they targets would have made them. have that empty place at the table of their prisoners. One Deputy posed the young people’s questions None of the young people got a and her struggle to deal with the Governor expressed interest in the to the prisoners, were filmed and certificate even though for many of stigma of having a son in prison, project, partly because, he confided this became part of their film. At no them who had been expelled from her lost dreams and hopes for her later, his wife had grown up in time did any young people from the school that would have been a first. child. It is a powerful message of Greenville. centre come into contact with any of loss and grief. The youth workers the offenders. The film itself centres on a young took great care to use the evidence It became clear that discussing man involved in a knife crime and of the mother and to incorporate the issues raised by the questions Based on the young people’s the impact of this on his family. it accurately, constantly seeking was difficult for the young people reactions to and feelings about the The words of the mother are the to strike a balance between

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compassion for the victim and his visible through its relevance in Pen and paper youth work During the evening Grace created family and sympathy for the family the community. In the process the an opportunity for sitting next to of the attacker. Jack’s mum’s words youth centre took on a significance Anne. Rather than talking, she are used over footage of the prison which wasn’t easy to detect from a passed her a note asking if she was cell and visiting room. distance- something especially true ok. Anne responded by writing a of a neighbourhood like Greenville note back saying she was feeling Although for youth workers what which is physically on the periphery down, things were not all well was always most important was of the town and many of whose at home – that she was really the process of making the film, its young people are themselves on the struggling. She signed the note with release is to be celebrated by the periphery. In this sense the youth a sad face ☹. Through a series of youth centre in a big way. A private centre is the community’s last nerve small points of clarification in the cinema will be hired and the young ending. Close it and you lose the notes that followed Anne, bit by bit, people who acted in the film will feel for what’s going on the edges of was able to reveal her struggles. be chauffeured to the event and your society - which was precisely Open questions were avoided appropriate evening wear hired. what was being proposed while this or ignored by Anne who was too The film will then be distributed story was unfolding. ‘sussed’ for that: she saw them to Youth Offending Teams and Anne was fifteen. On this particular as disrespectful, an insult to her other youth centres. Jack has been evening she looked subdued and intelligence. For Anne the problems further involved in creating music withdrawn, making little contact were too big to bring out in one go. for the film. with the other young people. Something was clearly affecting Though it wasn’t emotionally and All this activity and its ‘outcome’, her but her shrug suggested that physically possible to do that, the flowing from that one observation she did not want to talk. It was a small pieces of clarification that in the park, would have been dismissal of both Grace (the youth Grace asked for seemed to be impossible to predict. It wasn’t in worker) and the topic. respected and responded to. Grace the youth centre’s business plan – used the clarifications to show she though the work certainly became was interested, that she cared and –

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both as a youth worker but also then eventually stopped coming The power of graffiti: were constantly being moved on as a parent herself – that maybe altogether and contact was lost. Detached youth work in a and threatened with ASBOs. she even understood a little of what The police assumed they were all was happening to Anne. When it A couple of years later Anne town centre ‘hot spot’ from one area though it turned out became clear that her relationship saw Grace in the town centre. that they actually came from all with her mother and father was She approached her smiling, over the town. strained, one of Grace’s responses asked how she was and about the was that she was a mother as youth centre. She was studying in Prompted by police evidence of well and that as a parent she didn’t College and enjoying the course. ‘anti-social behaviour’ incidents always get it right. Anne asked whether Grace over one summer month, the remembered their exchange of Youth Service’s street-based team As the exchanges of notes notes, to which Grace replied that of youth workers was called in continued other worries came of course she did. Anne thought by a referral from the anti-social out – about the pressure to for a moment and then, looking behaviour team, the police and have a boyfriend and how she felt directly at Grace, said that on that the council. Some conversations about herself. All this took place evening she was feeling so low that with the young people opened without a spoken word between she was thinking of self harming up because some of them knew the two of them. At the end of but that their ‘conversation’ had some of the youth workers from the evening Grace wrote another stopped her. She then said thank their estates; others however had note asking Anne how she was you, and ‘seeya’. never met any of them before. feeling. Her response was to draw Even though a lot of adults were The workers were aware of not a straight face an improvement on drinking in the town centre, overstaying their welcome – the sad one where she’d started. complaints to the council were starting from the position that they mainly about young people. Though were guests in the young people’s No more was thought or said about they got on well together, even space and that it was a privilege this exchange. Though infrequently, sometimes with as many as seventy that young people let them come Anne continued to visit the centre, five of them gathering there, they into it. As at first there was a bit

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of a barrier, they needed to work In response to the questions, many asked for trips and computer consciously to find common ground. of the young people said they were games and did a Halloween project. there simply to meet their friends Over a couple of weeks the youth and to socialise. When asked As some of the young people didn’t workers began to get to know the directly what they would like to do, want to come into the building young people, working to build the response of one young person where the drop-in was being run, a climate where they might be was: ‘You’re the only people who’ve one of the youth workers - a young willing to engage more personally ever actually asked us that’. They woman volunteer – went to them with them. For one week they just said they were sick of sitting in to find out what might get them sat with them in the church yard, the church yard and would like involved. They talked more easily to focusing on them, listening to what somewhere to go – like a drop-in. her, saying they wanted something they had to say. As one of the youth As one young person suggested that was bigger and had pool tables. workers commented: ‘You have two doing a graffiti workshop, the Other town centre premises were ears and one mouth. Use them in youth workers brought in a graffiti then opened up which also had that proportion’. artist – also a youth worker - who young people came to the town media workshop space. However, offered a workshop in the town centre. Questions were added - conversations with young people As part of these conversations, over centre. On the first day he practised such as why were young people not using the drop-in remained an 100 young people were asked why graffiti techniques with the young being ignored – which were then on-going part of the process. they came to the town centre and people, persuading them that they presented to councillors. Though Though the youth workers never what they and other young people could draw and that it was OK to it took time to get a response, with saw themselves as ‘controllers’ or liked and didn’t like about it. The make mistakes. The workshop was the support of their manager the ‘enforcers’, the police were pleased youth workers also gave out leaflets designed to allow all the young youth workers eventually took over with the drop-in and, as anti-social informing young people of their people to develop - not just ‘the a town centre office from 4-9pm behaviour reduced, impressed by stop-and-search rights as well as best’. on Saturdays, setting up a drop-in the impact of the work. When they information on drugs, including which attracted up to seventy five first stopped by to have a cup of alcohol which was easily available The actual graffiti – pictures on young people. The young people chocolate, the young people wanted to the young people. boards – told the story of why the to leave. Having been persuaded

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to stay, they then challenged the Getting accredited: from a pupil referral unit (PRU). Starting from George’s interest in police – for example on their use of Youth work as a virtual trip He didn’t get along with his step motorbikes, Barry supported him terms such as ‘undesirables’. father and had poor communication in planning an imaginary motorbike ‘down under’ skills. All this, including his violent ride across Australia. To be sure he The project was seen as having a behaviour, had at times spilled over didn’t set George up to fail, he set number of other different outcomes into school life. realistic goals and agreed targets - some intended, some unintended, and boundaries with him for their with different agencies recognising The staff at the centre – all tutors or work together. George, who had and valuing different impacts. It teachers – were finding it difficult to never been given this kind of choice was not however easy to provide work with him. As they had a good before, liked the voluntary nature of recorded outcomes of a key element relationship with the Youth Service, his participation in the project and of the project - the conversations they asked them if there was a having ownership of what he was between the young people and the younger man who might be able to doing. This showed in his changed youth workers. build up a relationship with George. behaviour - he seemed calmer, more willing to be involved and The young people from the Town Barry, who was employed by (for him!) he asked his questions Centre are about to be involved in the Youth Service, worked with politely. He also appeared genuinely meeting Councillors, the police and George intensively three afternoons enthusiastic about making choices the Anti-Social Behaviour Team a week for a month. The centre based on his agenda even though to produce a Town Youth Strategy. made it clear that they still wanted this was ultimately the school’s This will be aimed at young people Barry, the youth worker, first met George to get his qualifications. agenda focused on getting him to with an interest in skateboarding George when he was 15 or 16 at However, though some of the engage and achieve. and BMX riding, with the focus of a ‘last chance saloon’ alternative staff were initially sceptical about provision being opened up for these education centre. George - a very the whole arrangement, Barry For his part Barry, while trying young people in the town centre. angry and frustrated young man was given a free hand on how he to build in a fun element to the – had already been through ‘the developed the work. sessions, went into them organised system’, including being excluded but also prepared, without ‘blagging

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it’, to draw on his improvisational needed to keep in mind that he had a bike magazine to a session. unlikely to have changed George’s skills as a youth worker. responsibilities to the organisation underlying attitudes, seemed to within which he was working. Using humour and enquiry, the plant a seed. By asking open-ended questions, worker also drew on this pool over the course of the project Barry Nonetheless, the sessions provided of trust to challenge George’s was able to help George price up a space for George and Barry to get beliefs and behaviour– for example the ‘virtual’ journey (petrol, food, to know each other and so for this his sexism and racism and his clothing, tariffs). He did this by relationship to develop. As George tendency to push boundaries. In encouraging him to carry out the became more relaxed, his manner this the worker had at times to be necessary research - by using the changed. He became more polite pro-active, using the opportunities internet, visiting bike shops, going to the worker and to others and provided by the openness of to the library. He also discussed more trusting and open in what he the educational programme to with him how to act (and be polite) would tell Barry, including about explore situations and issues as in particular situations and with his home and family life. All this they happened. While researching different kinds of people – for seemed to be helped by Barry being ‘Virtual Oz’ for example, George example, in a conversations on the male and younger than most of indicated that he wanted to look phone and in a shop, by making the other staff. Also Barry didn’t at aboriginal sites to find out eye contact and speaking clearly. look like a teacher – he usually more about their culture – their Once a more trusting relationship wore a tracksuit – and so was also paintings, their traditional weapons, had started to build, Barry would able to avoid displaying his power the didgeridoo, etc. Later in the At the same time Barry by jokingly give George a mark out and authority too obviously. Barry session, without relating this to the acknowledging he was part of a of ten for how he’d handled a also contributed to this build-up early discussion, he made a racist two way process in which he was particular exchange. of trust by giving George the time comment about a Pakistani family also learning from George and he needed to gain confidence in who owned a local shop. This gave growing through the experience, The project’s setting had its the relationship and by staying Barry an opportunity to challenge helped to empower George and constraints – for example the one consistent – by for example keeping him very directly, initiating an in- give him a sense of ownership and and a half hour periods – and Barry promises to bring material such as depth discussion which, though appropriate control. By showing

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he was open and that it’s alright By the time he left the centre via Casual – or informal? away to join his friends, matter- to make mistakes, he also sought the project George had achieved Coffee bar careers advice of-factly the youth worker says: to model alternative ways of accreditations in maths, geography, ‘You know you can go back to behaving. Thus, because Barry computer skills, english and life college and do GCSEs?’ The young Two people are leaning against knew nothing about motorbikes, skills. He went on to college to take man stops briefly, registers the the counter of a youth club coffee he made mistakes – sometimes on a course in mechanics and, having information, asks how he can find bar – one a man in his thirties, purpose. As this allowed George to negotiated the complex process out more. The worker suggests a part-time youth worker; the other pick him up on these, he came to of dependence via independence contacting a local careers office. a young man in his mid-teens. feel that the relationship wasn’t just to interdependence, ten years later weighted in Barry’s favour. George continues to have a relationship The two do not meet again for Hesitantly the youth worker also appreciated that he was able to with the Youth Service, the PRU many years. When they do, starts a conversation by introducing teach Barry things and that Barry and the education centre. the young man, no longer so young, himself. This continues fitfully, was responsive to this. remembers the incident vividly. self-consciously, until the youth He now is a qualified youth worker, worker asks the young man if Although George had a reputation has a PhD and is working as a he’s still at school. He left the for disengaging and becoming university lecturer. previous summer, he says, and is aggressive if he didn’t get his now working in an office. He makes own way, he was also able to take it very clear he isn’t much enjoying knockbacks during the project. the job. ‘How come you’re doing When for example late on a teacher it then?’ ‘It was my dad’s idea. challenged him over not having I wanted to stay on at school and worked out the price of petrol for do GCSEs’. his journey correctly, he factored in the new costs and made a better The young man lingers for a few choice on his travel options. moments longer, the conversation all but petering out. As he turns

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Beyond aggression to eye the project was surrounded by one youth worker were committed And the problem for the majority contact: Struggling for tension. Situated in a multi-racial to developing relationships with position was that there appeared city its core group of intimidating the core group within the one place to be little in the way of critical trust in a city centre drop-in ‘skinheads’ provoked anger and which opened its doors to them, the dialogue. For weeks the young suspicion. Many politicians and other was on the edge of wanting to men and women remained sulky, indeed youth workers felt that the exclude them completely ...and to surly and suspicious. They were Council should not be supporting start afresh. on edge with one another, almost work with ‘racist’ young people. anticipating the authoritarian This argument would not go away. lecture that never came. The Indeed the contradictions were It revealed itself on a regular basis workers’ gentle advances and being experienced keenly within as the daily users, comprising inoffensive questions were rebuffed. the staff team of three full-timers about a dozen young men and However, slowly, the wall of and six sessional workers, the half a dozen young women, two antagonism began to crumble. latter employed in theory to of whom brought their babies, Increasingly the co-ordinator’s provide structured workshops to displayed a contradictory cocktail office became a fulcrum of the the Centre’s users. All the full- of sexist and racist prejudice mixed Centre’s activity, especially as key time staff were women and found with class solidarity. Whilst all members of the group wanted to themselves at odds about how to three women workers would have learn how to use the typewriter, relate to their audience of social described themselves as feminist, the photocopier, the fax machine. outcasts, almost all of whom the two in the majority believed Desiring to do so forced them to At first glance the youth work travelled in from the same nearby that confrontation with the group put aside their aloof ‘we don’t setting seemed ideal – a town council estate. Aged between 17 would be counter-productive. In need help from anybody’ stance. centre ‘drop-in’ housed in a and 25, they were all unemployed, the jargon we used at the time they The workers’ commitment to characterful, rambling old all shared a competitive obsession favoured ‘critical dialogue’. The taking their requests for assistance commercial building funded by with tattoos, whilst several were in worker in the minority felt that this seriously and trusting them with the the so-called ‘riot money’ of the and out of custody on a recurring approach failed to establish ground equipment was met by a lessening early 1980’s. But from the outset basis. Whilst the co-ordinator and rules for acceptable behaviour. of the tension, an unexpected smile,

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the exchange of joking remarks and band were interested in the music hated. All was not plain sailing For what seemed an eternity they genuine eye contact. Through this itself and old records were dug though. In an effort to breathe withdrew their good will. Ironically process the office became the place out and played. Another opening life into the cookery class, it was the incident led to the worker where everyone congregated to was provided as well by the young agreed to eat together collectively involved leaving the project, to swap news and gossip. people’s mocking the strong once a week on Tuesday afternoons. be replaced by a young man, who northern accent of the co-ordinator, became affectionately known later Bit by bit the workers were which led to a long-running The perennial favourite meal was as ‘Hippie Steve’. His arrival meant accepted into the group’s life, argument about stereotypes. mash and beans despite efforts that the workers were much more learning slowly about the young to introduce other dishes. But the in accord about their commitment people as individuals. In exploring meals were to provide some very to a creative process which could more of the personal and social positive moments, within which not be scripted in advance. a pattern emerged, wherein a discussions suddenly took off – worker’s willingness to take the about racism, about violence, about Thus despite the setbacks, the initiative in talking about their own youth unemployment. However atmosphere in the centre grew experiences, say around school disaster struck, after a particularly more welcoming, more trusting and or relations within the family, heated argument about sexism reflected too the needs and desires was mirrored by a young person when one of the workers exclaimed of the skinheads themselves. The opening up about their own history. “that was great, what should we photography workshop was taken As an example one of the staff had discuss next week?”. A deathly up as an opportunity to experiment worked, unknown to her parents, silence ensued. Later some of with their self-image and to in the cloakroom at an infamous them asked, ‘what did she mean produce publicity for a fledgling all-night Northern Soul club. ‘discuss’?. We were just chatting, band. The shoe-making workshop, Several of the young people were having a laugh and a row’. The last initially dismissed as ‘hippie amazed at such dubious behaviour Gradually the group began to use thing this volatile and proud group sandal-making crap’ translated and were drawn into sharing some some of the workshop options, wanted was to be worked on rather into an opportunity to personalise of their clandestine activity. It which had been rejected as being than with, to feel that they were and/or repair their ubiquitous helped too that members of the too much like the school they had being cornered and manipulated. ‘Doc Martens’.

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To an extent the group’s members Beyond stereotype and Gypsy Communities’. Rather took more control over the centre and prejudice: than hearing from the travellers itself. One of the leading lights, very themselves, the day consisted much a hard man in appearance, Developing youth work with mostly of one professional speaker became the building’s paid cleaner, traveller young women after another talking about their carrying out his duties with his experiences of working with these young baby in tow. Painting and Kimberly was aware of a traveller communities. The discussions small DIY tasks were undertaken. campsite about five minutes walk seemed to focus on the problems Whilst still something of a ghetto, from the youth centre where she they faced, without acknowledging the centre was perceived as less worked. Though she had been in how racism impacted on areas threatening to outsiders and more her post for a number of years she such as health and literacy. She challenging to its insiders than its had never seen or met any of the had particularly wanted to hear critics had expected young people from the site. This from the travellers themselves was not good enough for her since, about their culture and what gave How much progress was made all involved were mindful that a as a youth worker she believed them the strength to maintain their remains an elusive question. All the particular set of circumstances that she needed to be proactive in identity and way of life. more so as the project’s existence created collectively, through thick establishing contact. and philosophy were undermined and thin, was disappearing. The During the morning she became by its dependence on short-term youth work process needs the Kimberly knew nothing about aware of a group of women who funding and hence discontinuity in freedom to breathe and the space travellers other than what she had appeared to be travellers and who terms of relationships. With time to grow. Too often this crucial need come across in the media, which from their expressions, like her, and money running out two of the is not given its due. In this sense was overwhelmingly negative. seemed somewhat uncomfortable. main members of the team left for we will never know what might Attempts to contact appropriate At lunch time she went to sit with other parts of the country. Whilst have unfolded if the process and agencies locally for information them and asked what they thought the young people shrugged their relations had continued for longer. proved fruitless. After six months of the day. They agreed that it shoulders with only a nodding, still without contact, she attended should have been led by people but telling flicker of emotion, a training course on ‘Traveller from the traveller communities

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and should have had more focus have to prove the integrity of her It was difficult for Kimberly to get contrast to the warnings she’d had on their positive attributes. The intent - that she was not coming in contact with the group because and she felt a connection to these conversation also revealed a very to tell them or to treat their young she needed to have a relationship women and their children. different picture from the morning people as problems. She also had with somebody who was trusted by session as, with changing times it confirmed that she would need the travellers, who could vouch for As the women clearly so prioritised hitting these communities hard, to be introduced appropriately by and introduce her. This took about being part of a wider family unit, they seemed to be having to fight someone who was trusted by the a year of negotiating a series of the children had many loving and to preserve these positives in group, in particular to the women ‘someone-who-knows-someone’ watchful elders to look out for their culture. Though Kimberly in charge of ‘educational’ matters. contacts before Kimberly was them - explained as: ‘We don’t let sensed their frustrations and their invited to meet the women from the the aprons strings out too far’. vulnerability to forces that wanted As the boys had more freedom to site. When she did get to meet them Their responses also revealed a both to know and to change them, leave the site and were involved in they were keen to welcome her and real concern and an ambition for their pride in their strong values a number of activities already, she explain to her about their culture their daughters including wanting and traditions came across strongly. concluded that a young women’s and their relationships with their them to have safe opportunities group might work for the girls aged daughters. for nurturing their togetherness. Kimberly learnt a number of 11-16. This was a powerful value in their important things from the final Kimberly followed the lead of the community. But their experience session when the travellers She also had to deal with warning women in working out the kind of the world was not always as a themselves spoke and answered comments such as: ‘Not even some of questions that she could ask place that was safe or welcoming questions: that travellers and of the police will go on the site’; and respectfully and without offence. but of vulnerability and anxiety gypsies are different and that there ‘I wouldn’t bother, their parents will She wanted to know enough to help handed down from generation to are thousands of cultures rather disrupt their attendance’. However her to work with the young people’s generation – a response both to this than a collective stereotype; that it was important to her to find out culture and how to demonstrate vulnerability and typical of close therefore every site had different for herself who these young people that respect, as mutual respect knit communities. values so that she could only were and what was ‘really’ going on was key to the group’s success. learn from the local people about for them. The warmth and openness of their One of the women who was their culture; and that she would welcome for her was in stark overwhelmingly supportive

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believed that the young women to happen again, trust would be the young women and their culture should be encouraged to become difficult to maintain and the contact was being tested. However over more confident in the face of the would end. time the young women seemed negative stereotypes of travellers reassured about the workers’ which they met in the schools Kimberly suggested the young integrity and value base so that and in society generally. As the women come to the centre weekly when for example they had pointed women shared their life stories, for a trial period of three months. out to them the need for the same Kimberly shared some of her own – She offered to meet the mothers respect for other groups which they particularly problems with literacy after that to get their feedback expected for themselves, they were which had undermined her own and gave them her mobile number quick to respond. confidence as a young person and so they could speak to her directly left her feeling that she didn’t fit about any immediate worries. They arrived at the sessions en in. These exchanges helped her masse, a strong and confident empathise with the young women In the build up to the first session, group who bought great energy to and motivated her to offer activities Kimberly and her co-worker the centre. As the staff got to know to them which were fun and would acknowledged that they were very arrived, the young women brought them and as they got to know the build confidence. apprehensive, their expectations huge enthusiasm to sessions. staff they emerged as young women still effected by the media’s Small comments could nonetheless with very striking personalities She sensed some nervousness negative stereotypes of traveller reveal how vulnerable the young who enjoyed each other’s company that as a non-traveller she would communities. This helped her women felt – as when one of them and responded to the challenges be taking on a position of trust to realise how powerful these challenged: ‘So are you going to posed by the activities. However, within the community. Kimberly stereotypes were despite the tell us that we are ‘pikies’ and because they had a tendency to understood that due to a need for warmth and the trust displayed to to fuck off?’ Though said quietly, talk over each other, the workers self preservation non-travellers her by this traveller community this suggested a level of anxiety introduced ‘listening’ and ‘hearing’ were given a second chance which had done so much to within the group, which at times games aimed at refining their if something went wrong but contradict these stereotypes. left the workers feeling that the communication skills within the following that if something were In the event, from the moment they genuineness of their respect for group.

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What also became clear was that forms were often distrusted and workers through all this was: what about the project for the boys on the because at home someone was papers sent home experienced if the young women wanted to site to start asking when it would be always near enough to offer help, as institutional intrusion. have conversations which would their turn to come the centre! outside their community the young Text messages and phone calls not have been approved by the women were liable very quickly to were therefore important for mothers’ group? However, because, After it had been running for some look for support from others before keeping in touch and following up it seemed, they had other trusted months, a new staff member joined attempting a new task. Because administrative matters. Kimberly adults in their lives to speak to, the group. As always happened, this wasn’t necessarily available would also ask parents to sign this in fact did not turn out to the young women were asked in the centre, they could at times as and when they came into the be a problem. If issues did arise to introduce themselves and appear nervous about trying new centre, recognising that it was Kimberly would look for ways say something about who they activities. When baking for example, the relationship and the personal of supporting the young women were. Eventually, it was the turn the workers decided they needed contact which made the difference. which remained respectful to their of the young woman who weeks to go through the process twice so families. As most of the time it was earlier had posed the workers that, second time around, the young Though consistency was throughout she who was asking the questions, with the ‘pikie’ challenge. Boldly women felt confident enough to seen as vital, flexibility needed to they seemed over the weeks to she announced: ‘I’m a Traveller measure and mix the ingredients run alongside this. On an evening accept her commitment to them as - and Proud!’ – a response which and complete the task on their own. when only one of the girls could genuine and so were able to share Kimberley read as a non-accredited Eating together was anyway an attend, for example, she agreed more about their culture with her. ‘outcome’ indicating the level of important activity in its own right that four of the boys from the confidence which by then existed at the centre, so that the young community could take part. This As one of the mothers would call in between the workers and the young women would bring food to cook turned out to be the session at at the end of most of the sessions women. and share with the whole group which Kimberly learnt even more to hear what the group had been some of which, the workers made about the racism and discrimination up to and give Kimberley feedback, sure, was always taken home. which these young people including from the young women, experienced in their everyday lives. the three month review meeting Getting the paperwork completed turned out not to be needed. In fact was more of a problem. Letters and A potential dilemma for the there were enough positive feelings

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3. Twelve youth work stories

‘I wouldn’t be the person I were we didn’t care about anything a police chase. Jenny even made a I was and others … have someone am today’: One young man and found it hard to communicate effort to go on patrol on the streets that really understands the youth with parents and teachers. When it with the police to actually see what because I know if I didn’t have on why young people need felt like the whole world shut you people actually did do when the someone like Jenny I wouldn’t youth clubs out there was always Jenny that you youth centre wasn’t open for us to be the person I am today!! could just go to talk about anything go to. Luckily she never found us in the world and she would be most in our hiding places but she did understanding and give you the tell us what funny things happened best advice any could give. A lot of while she was out like a police man people called her their second mum having to jump up a huge wall. (she was to me). She told us she just couldn’t stop laughing at him haha. There was always the educational side of being at a youth club too But it wasn’t just to do with the - learning things we really didn’t police and keeping us out of get to learn about at school and trouble. It was everything – family being able to do projects with problems, pregnancies, school other people and learning how to issues, friend problems and a lot really work as a team ... also Jenny more to be honest. Every teenager actually tried to get us youth and needs someone like Jenny to go the police to co-operate – to get us to because having someone like her Ashbury youth club was a big part to see eye to eye with them. really helps with life. She helped of me whilst being aged 13-18. It me and my friends out with so many kept me safe and … from getting A lot of time it didn’t work but it was things. myself and my friends into trouble. still good to see the real side of the But it wasn’t all about being kept police specially at the age we was at This is why we need to keep all the off the streets. At the age that we because, lets face it, everyone liked youth centres open so people like

32 This is youth work – As seen by young people

3. Twelve youth work stories

A modest journey in Judy: We learnt how you would everyone a better awareness Jenny: When we went on the self-discovery: Reflections cope in different situations. of their personalities and residential I didn’t really know And sometimes the way you what they actually did like and anybody – I didn’t know any of on a mentoring ‘resi’ cope can affect others… didn’t like as people in general the other sixth formers. So I was a bit like – I don’t know what to And sometimes you think – I don’t Jenny: As well, we learnt about say to people. They did ice breakers, agree with that, but when it came young people and the problems like the body to body game… down to it you saw people being they may talk to you about as a But then after a couple of hours, honest. That was good because, peer mentor... you get to see we were all just sound with each though sometimes you don’t think (them) from a different perspective. other. So it improved my social you do, when you’re in a situation You know you go in there and you skills a lot. I find I can communicate with a young person your morals think you know it all, well I did. with people a lot better… do actually come out more. People And then later on my perspective showed them more on the resi totally changed from what I The residential makes it obvious because they didn’t feel pressured thought anyway. what qualities you’ve got as a when they weren’t in school, didn’t person and that they are important. feel the peer pressure. Leoni: It was fun doing it as well. And that everyone else has In my group, it was a total variation. individual qualities – it’s not just Leoni: You were like an influence We didn’t know the people in the that everyone’s the same. You as as well on people. And if you’re upper sixth that came with us. a person should keep hold of that. Leoni: We went to Yorkshire for the an influence on people your age People you’d seen in the corridor resi. It was in the middle of nowhere then you’re definitely going to and you’d never met – you got stuck Leoni: But then at the end of really, like a field of cows, that’s have an impact on someone who’s with them to play the body game the residential everyone was what was good because you’re away younger than you especially if where you’ve got to put your body just mates. from the rest of the world – a whole they’re coming to you for help. parts together. It was like “Oh my weekend devoted to you. And it (the residential) just gave God get your hands away from me!” Laughter

33 This is youth work – As seen by young people

3. Twelve youth work stories

Surviving, learning and couldn’t carry out ordinary everyday I continued to hide the reality of Our response was one of great growing: The youth centre tasks, from a young age I ran the my home situation, the role of amusement - before running off household, managing the money ‘appropriate adult’ at my many laughing, we asked them if they as sanctuary and doing the shopping. This made police interviews was taken by a were weirdoes wanting to talk to me a prime candidate for the duty social worker or another family kids. But they kept coming back and attention of many of the agencies member. I often felt pressure from eventually invited me to attend the which are now part of Integrated these adult authority figures as local youth centre. Though I was Youth SupportServices (IYSS). they tried to get me do something reluctant – apprehensive – I agreed. I wasn’t ready for or simply didn’t On one occasion I went to a health As my attendance at school rapidly want to do – I simply didn’t trust workshop where, as well as having went downhill, one of these was them. Looking back I realise I a health check, I was tempted education welfare. At that time my had chosen to live in my own mainly by the offer of fruit cocktails. education was the last thing on my secretive world, outside all official mind. At the age of 14, I was much surveillance, data recording and Though I never disclosed the reality more preoccupied with the upkeep information-sharing. I also now of my home life until much later of the family home – and just understand my truancy as a coping when I felt ready, the youth centre dealing with my parent’s addiction. strategy, particularly for dealing provided a calm and welcoming This was never picked up by the with being bullied at school. space away from the negative education welfare officers, and I distractions of my home life. The never told them about it or anyone It was at about this time that I walls were covered with sexual Most of my adolescent life was else. I even went to great lengths to had my first encounter with the health and alcohol awareness spent living with a parent who was hide it from the rest of my family. youth work detached team. With posters and in the middle of the battling alcoholism. I still feel a a group of friends, I was setting room there was a round table where great deal of love for them and Later, as I got involved in what newspaper alight on the local I would often find myself sitting. see them as having given it their today would probably be called football pitch. The workers said As well as giving me access to a best in the struggles they faced in ‘anti-social behaviour’, I came hello, showed their identification range of positive adult role models – life. However, because they often into contact with the police. As badges and tried to tackle our fire. members of the staff team – I shared

34 This is youth work – As seen by young people

3. Twelve youth work stories

many happy times with friends and second hand shops it sat alongside. continued to visit the staff at the a football tournament or a bike the centre staff on outings to the I was anyway as likely to meet the centre regularly as I was finding the ride. Their reaction was that if a trip beach, football tournaments, bike workers on detached work or at transition to full time employment was to be organised, we’d have to rides. These activities may seem the local shop or local café where, difficult. This was due mainly to organise it ourselves – and behave very basic to outsiders and can out of their own pocket, they would peer pressure as a lot of my friends appropriately. Though the trip never often be taken for granted. But they often treat me to a bag of chips. It’s were becoming more involved in happened, it made me realise always made me feel welcome as not my intention to be critical of criminal activity. When I disclosed that the centre was open to giving well as giving me opportunities I other agencies that were involved to the staff at the centre that I was anyone a chance as long as they did wasn’t likely get at home. For me in my life – only to highlight how finding it difficult not to become their best, no matter how little. they were about much more than, important it was for an organisation involved, they urged me to keep my just taking a bunch of naughty kids to show an interest in my life even focus because I had by then come When I was eighteen I had a family to the beach and getting them a while I was taking part in enjoyable too far to go back to my previous bereavement which affected my life bag of chips. It was on these trips recreational activities. lifestyle. I know now that the staff badly. Again, the staff at the centre that my relationship with the youth were trying to raise my sense of provided a sanctuary. Though they centre and the staff developed so As the date of my GCSEs achievement; for me at the time it all expressed their condolences, that at critical moments in my life approached I was still finding it also gave me renewed hope that I the most influential memory I took I was confident enough to go to the difficult at home and was beginning was doing the right thing. from this experience was of a youth centre and ask for help. to get anxious about what grades worker who talked about their own I would get. As home was not a By then the consequences of loss of a family member at a similar Nor were these critical moments suitable place to revise, the centre their law breaking for some of my age. Even though the process of restricted to the youth centre. let me use a room which came friends were beginning to show, grieving was vast and complex, that This youth work delivered within with friendly staff support. I then with some having to attend Youth one conversation made the world a defined territory. The youth enrolled with a training provider Offending Team sessions or being a better place just by my helping centre itself was just an office on and from there went on to an threatened with court appearances me realise that someone else had the main street which from the apprenticeship and a full time job and prison. I asked staff at the been in a similar situation. I was outside looked no different from for which the senior worker of centre to organise a trip like the due to go on my first ever holiday the numerous take-aways and the centre gave me a reference. I ones we’d been on in the past – to that month but was now struggling

35 3. Twelve youth work stories

to find the spending money as I in the group. Then there was a had paid for the funeral costs. The knock on the door and the detached centre staff organised a collection team squeezed their heads round and donated it to me. it and gave me a wave of support before being shuffled to the exit by After returning from holiday I course tutors not too pleased at the popped into the centre one day session being interrupted! Still a after work at a local factory as the fond memory. From this entry level detached team were preparing to course I went on to graduate from go out. As they always did, they university with a youth work degree, gave me what ever time they could, became a youth worker and then asking how work was going and just enrolled on an MA course. showing a general interest. It was then I asked the question which has A conversation of note during my had a fundamental impact on the transition from young person to rest of my life. youth worker happened when two youth workers took me for a cup “How do you do this? What you do?” of tea in a café. Their advice was very clear: though I might observe What I was asking was: how do I other youth workers and even take become a youth worker? The staff on bits of their practice, as I had then supported me in applying for the skills to be a youth worker, and getting a place on a local entry I needed to be sure that I stayed level youth work course. At the ‘myself’. I¸ the clear message was, induction evening I was incredibly was good enough to do something nervous and quiet, just trying to worthwhile, and in my own right. find my feet as the youngest person

36 4. Practising

As far as possible, each of these amongst these features are young subject accreditations. Such valued ‘stories’ has sought to allow the people’s choice to engage, starting gains from youth work are of course practice described to tell its own points defined by their interests far from exceptional. story – about the two-steps- and concerns, and environments forward-one-step-back of its and activities which they continue However, as this story also processes and (sometimes) about substantially to shape – and enjoy. illustrates, these are often – indeed how it impacted on young people. Because the young man concerned usually – more hidden or more All the workers involved have was required to attend, the one subtle in their expression. Few brought to it often long experience, exception is the account of the work of these narratives therefore add much background knowledge done within a pupil referral unit up to a straightforward success and a great deal of internalised (PRU) - included particularly as a story with predictable measured skill. These are all likely to have vivid example of how youth work outcomes – what, sceptically, one been rooted in a training which, skills can help move an ‘excluded’ of the narrators looking back on his as well as improving ‘technical young person from, at best, own time as a youth club member competence’, emphasised self- compliant attendance to motivated called ‘community and youth work awareness and self-reflection participation and some ‘owned’ as the saviour’. Moreover, when – such as recognising their own (and, for him especially, highly feasible or acceptable ‘direct apprehensions before taking on a valued) educational achievements. delivery’ is significantly determined challenging new piece of work. by powerful external factors – the Significantly, as well as ending of the short-term funding These accounts have been included demonstrating a continuing for a drop-in centre used by because they capture key features link with an institution and its skinheads; a decision by managers of the fundamentally educational workers, this is also one of the few that a youth centre cannot contain processes of youth-work-in-action stories which provides the kind of a group of young women – then which IDYW and others have been ‘hard’ evidence of an ‘outcome’ painstakingly developed processes struggling to defend. As was made increasingly demanded by policy- with potentially valuable outcomes clear in ‘Setting the Scene’, crucial makers – in this case in the form of for young people and their

37 4. Practising

communities may anyway trust in the youth worker one of some reality to what one former was true whether they were first be aborted. those young women still ended up ‘user’, now a youth worker himself, met as part of a milling crowd in in a custodial institution, a black tentatively referred to as ‘the magic a city centre ‘hot spot’, or causing Even in more favourable conditions, young man was still repeatedly of youth work’ – for him, importantly, havoc on the streets of their estate, however, no advance guarantees stopped and searched by the local rooted in ‘a first engagement of or on a playing field setting fires, were possible that a piece of police, some young people were humour’. Though none stands alone or simply because they had chosen information on returning to still reluctant to use a newly opened or makes ‘success’ inevitable, some to use a town centre drop-in. education would even get picked Saturday night drop-in, and others, of these ‘indicators’ are therefore Rarely was it achieved without a up by the young man to whom it clearly sometimes up to no good, worth capturing. struggle – to for example escape was offered, still less that it were still not willing to reveal their media-imposed images, overcome would open up a pathway to a neighbourhood hiding places to Which young people? workers’ own preconceptions higher degree. Or that support the youth worker. Most starkly and even prejudices, address to a distressed young woman via and tragically, even as a highly Individually or as a group, many of colleagues’ doubts and contrary a series of written notes would imaginative and challenging youth the young people featured in these interpretations of what was needed. act as a protection against self- work project on carrying knives stories entered their youth work Nonetheless, the core commitment harming – an ‘outcome’ which was under way, one young man was encounters with a stigmatised and remained: to move past the anyway only emerged by accident killed and another was in custody potentially discriminatory label generalisations attached to the two years later. Similarly, if more charged with his murder. attached to them: ‘Skinhead’, label - ‘anti-social’, ‘wild’, ‘racist’, immediately, the group of girls ‘Traveller’, ‘Black’, ‘school drop- ‘sexist’ – in search of as fresh a causing havoc on the street of Running though the stories, out’, even ‘carer’. Nonetheless, perception of the young person an estate did not instantly stop however, are some repeating and the work with them proceeded on carrying it as they could achieve. annoying residents, including inter-related themes which one basic but overriding premise: other young people, just because illuminate what helps make youth that that the youth worker’s task However, as in many youth work detached workers got involved. work work, what might count as was to understand and treat them situations, this struggle was often And though youth work inputs an ‘outcome’ and how the practice as young people, for who they were, not without its contradictions. continued over many months, even might have helped achieve this. here, now and, most often, within Rooted in their own experiences, years, despite strongly affirmed As they come together, these give their chosen peer groupings. This values and aspirations, some of

38 4. Practising

these young people willingly, old commercial building, streets people-owned. Crucial here is their have to make decisions ‘on the even proudly, embraced some of of an estate, town centre square, definition by that ‘first engagement wing’ about whether and how the labels – as ‘Black’, ‘Traveller’, local park, church yard, residential through humour’ – a built-in ‘fun to respond to, say, young people ‘Skinhead’ – because in crucial centre ‘in the middle of nowhere element’ in environments as (literally) playing with fire in a ways these helped them define …like a field of cows… away from different as a mentoring training public place. their self- and their wider the rest of the world’. For the course in a remote residential communities and their cultural young person this may have been centre and a teaching room within However, though more elusive identity. As well as recognising a ‘defined territory’ to which an urban PRU. Because these are and though sometimes for workers the oppressive community and youth workers were privileged to also spaces within which young expressed in frustrating ways, institutional rejection which the have access, acquiring a special people can negotiate engagement this sense of ownership of youth labels could attract, therefore, significance even when (or perhaps at their own pace and according work spaces by young people including from other young people, because) it is ‘just an office on the to their own levels of readiness, ultimately underpins the practice for some of workers another main street’. These settings may workers must also, as one worker much more widely. Thus for months essential starting point was to have been part of a ‘local sense put it, ‘wait for the right time to a young man may choose not to demonstrate their awareness of of space’ which, this same writer bring things to the boil – though you look a youth worker in the eye as the positive meanings of these suggests, could be lost as youth (do) have them simmering’. he comes into the centre. A shrug identities for some of the young workers move into large multi- may dismiss an invitation to talk people they were meeting. purpose MyPlace buildings – or, in A skilful negotiation of youth even when the young person is the backwash of Youth Service cuts, work’s entry into spaces which are obviously feeling down. A decision The setting into amorphous ‘hubs’ serving wide young people’s is most obviously may be made by members on geographical areas which some demanded of detached workers - whether the police may come into For enabling these young people to authorities are now introducing. seen by some as ‘weirdos wanting the club - or not. ‘We decide these move from merely being present to to talk to kids’ and facing reactions things here’, is the message, ‘even genuine participation, the nature Youth work settings are important varying from indifference to at least though you, the youth workers, of setting was usually critical. In too, however, as social and cultural mild mickey-taking. If they do not are formally in charge’. part this of course meant physical spaces which in powerful if still want young people simply ‘running space, or spaces – youth club, an of course limited ways are young off laughing’, these workers may Where even limited degrees of

39 4. Practising

ownership are not a given – where pressures to be involved in risky hold them in – especially often session can become the arena for for example the youth work is behaviours which, young people will those who feel alienated from simple but spontaneous forms being ‘hosted’ by a non-youth often acknowledge within a youth the more formal, bureaucratic, of risk-taking and confidence- work agency such as a PRU with work relationship, they’d much controlling and sometimes building. In a very public situation a its constraining one and a half prefer not to have to deal with. discriminatory spaces of the worker can, off-the-cuff, conduct a hour teaching periods – a youth education and welfare systems. lengthy and sensitive conversation worker will seek to go through a The protections on offer however with a touchy young woman entirely careful negotiation of role and style. are not just from tangling with Improvisation – with consistency through written notes; or offer a Moreover, even a ‘dedicated’ youth the police or ‘keeping us out one-liner piece of ‘careers advice’ space like a youth club may find of trouble’. ‘Being safe’ here, The considerable room for while all eyes stay firmly on the itself stretched to or even beyond as understood by workers but manoeuvre which such pool table; or out of a passing and its limit when suddenly invaded especially young people, again environments have given workers wordless off-duty encounter with a by a tight-knit and rowdy group often means something more have, at least implicitly, legitimised young man develop a lengthy and of young women with little initial subtle, less tangible - the provision and even sometimes encouraged complex script writing, drama and understanding of, or tolerance for of ‘a sanctuary’, of ‘a calm and creativity, allowing them ‘without film making ‘project’. Indeed, the its rules, both hidden and explicit. welcoming space (away from) the “blagging it” to draw on (their) very act of trying to convert the negative distractions’ of home; improvisational skills’ – to develop improvised into the pre-arranged – Nonetheless, as more than one the one place to open its doors a ‘process which could not be sitting around in the worker’s office of the stories makes clear, where to them; time out from the scripted in advance’. Even when ‘just chatting, having a laugh and a young people do come to feel that expectations of parents and a tight- having to work within a laid-down row’ into ‘a discussion group’ – can the spaces are significantly ‘theirs’, knit community; or of somewhere curriculum, for example, by starting be enough to reinstate barriers they are then experienced as to be and someone to greet you from a young man’s strongly which the young people were slowly safe. Often this really does mean ‘when it felt like the whole world expressed interest in motorbikes a lowering. protection from violence or abuse shut you out …’ It is these rules of youth worker can help him design or other physical dangers on the engagement which, once young a ‘virtual’ trip whose very real Here too, however, the youth streets. Within this, too, may be people have convinced themselves destination is a range of externally worker faces dilemmas since some felt protection from peer they are authentic, draw and then validated qualifications. A baking consistency and reliability also

40 4. Practising

remain crucial characteristics, It is here that the features which To challenge and develop… at school and being able to do including, as more than one of the so mark out youth work practice projects’. Sometimes it will be stories reveals, helping a group to – informality, fluidity, spontaneity In their often very different ways, implemented in very direct set and then keep to its own agreed – can all too easily be misread, all the stories demonstrate how ways: by handing out leaflets on ground rules. Staying flexible, especially by an outsider as an within a youth work environment drugs and alcohol or displaying responding imaginatively to events off-the-cuff casualness when in workers, proactively and without wall posters which, somewhat as they occur, can therefore never fact what they mask are some their actions being experienced surprisingly, may be remembered be confused with simply being ‘laid of its core threads: a prepared as disrespectful, challenge young many years later. On occasions it back’, ‘going with the flow’. Even mind, an attention to detail and people to go beyond their starting may take the form of opening up though, at a first encounter, a young trustworthiness. points. Here as elsewhere in a room for doing homework away man and his friends laughed at youth work the focus remains on from family pressures. them and left them standing, the strengths, on potential – on what detached workers ‘kept coming this young person may themselves For the young person, however, back and eventually invited me be and could become. ‘Outcomes’ that homework room may mean to attend the local youth centre’, seen as important are not therefore much more than the mere provision until, many months later, they pre-defined within narrow policy of some physical space. It may turned up at his first youth work parameters. Rather, they are support a wavering commitment training course to give him a wave expressed as ‘the qualities you’ve to hang on in school, in the longer of support. As well as ‘follow(ing) got as a person … and that everyone run therefore helping to build a very through on promises made’ to else has (as an) individual…’, as personal ‘sense of achievement’. the young women they met on the ‘staying myself’ and ultimately as Under the label ‘mentoring streets, workers ‘stayed consistent becoming ‘the person I am today’. training’, some of the young people in when and where they met the involved may come to realise what group’. So too did the PRU-based Often this ‘educational side’ of the they don’t know but need to know, worker – by for example ‘keeping work will be explicitly welcomed and how their personalities and promises to bring material such as by young people – ‘learning things values (‘morals’) impact on others. a bike magazine’. we really didn’t get to learn about In the process they may also be

41 4. Practising

opened up to new kinds of social games used to get a group of young before, but which they may see as see a gang or teachers a disruptive interaction and have their social women to think critically about how way beyond their aspirations, even class, the youth worker starts by networks widened – or, in another they communicate with each other; perhaps as ‘not for people like me’. looking for, and then embracing, situation, learn ‘how to really work or a lengthy dialogue initiated the in-built possibilities of young as a team’. aimed at persuading young men … with and through groups … people’s wish to ‘do things with not to carry knives. my mates’ – the group solidarities Indeed, once a more trusting Precisely because youth work is it can produce, the collective relationship has started to build, Behind what one young man so substantially a young people’s identities it can generate, the the worker’s challenge may become described as ‘activities (which) may space, most of it occurs within skills and resources that may very direct, planned and targeted, seem very basic to outsiders and and through their peer groups. then be released and shared. using the opportunities provided can often be taken for granted’, This certainly includes recognising How otherwise could a group of by the openness of the setting to youth workers are thus seeking to how these can limit, even damage, young people, many black, even examine situations and issues as make offers which are ultimately individuals within them – supporting consider taking on the police and they occur in highly critical ways. ‘educational’ in the broadest sense. expectations of heavy drinking or challenging the harassment they One young person may be offered a This will be done in ways which carrying knives, distracting from get from them? How could young straightforward piece of advice not leave young people themselves educational or job aspirations, women tensely at odds with their to make a particular career choice. choice and remain respectful reinforcing offensively racist and community end up as members of Another may be given marks out of of their family and community sexist views and behaviour, exerting their local youth forum and with ten, not for a written assignment loyalties. Nonetheless, again often pressures to ‘become more involved self-images and aspirations so but for how they handled a requiring a tense balancing act, the in criminal activity’. shifted that, paradoxically, three particular social exchange – and intention will be to seek to stretch years later they no longer need the also asked open-ended questions the young people to think and look In very deliberate ways, youth group? Or, contradictorily again, about their knee-jerk ‘tendency outside their personal ‘box’: to work seeks not just to protect venture out from a tight and hugely to push boundaries’. A ‘critical suggest not just that they could go against these risks nor even supportive traveller community to dialogue’ may be started within a to places - intellectual, emotional, merely to challenge them but very risk a programme of challenging group on its members’ prejudicial social as well as physical - to deliberately to build positively activities in a local youth centre? attitudes; or listening and hearing which they have never have been beyond them. Where the police may Or at a residential event open

42 4. Practising

themselves up to new people to the are not of course panaceas. People team for a young woman to join for or be willing to accept in other point where ‘after a couple of hours – not just young people – often feel or persuading the apparently settings. As the young man caring we’re all sound with each other’? at their loneliest in a crowd. That ‘hard man’ of a skinhead group to for his alcoholic mother realised How without each other’s support crowd may not be very welcoming become the centre’s paid cleaner. many years later, in theory he’d could young people in search of or inclusive – indeed, it may be But they may also be very personal: been ‘a prime candidate for the town centre sociability and fun experienced as shutting you out. feeling affirmed by having some attention of agencies …which entertain the idea of working with It may not value or show much dignity restored in your relations are now part of integrated youth a graffiti artist and then go on respect for the particular skills you with the police; or no longer seeing support services’. However, to make demands of their local as an individual are bringing to it; yourself as ‘scum’; or being able he ‘simply didn’t trust them’, council and contribute to its or in its determination to ‘have fun’ to say out loud: ‘I’m a Traveller choosing instead to live in his own youth strategy? it may be closed to the personal – and proud’. Sometimes it may ‘secretive world, outside all official traumas you are dealing with even mean in time being able to surveillance’, into which even the Not only were the chances very elsewhere. The group may be the conclude: ‘I wouldn’t be the person youth workers he’d started to trust slim that any one of these young place, too, where those unwanted I am today’; or ending up believing were admitted only very slowly. people, whatever their personal peer pressures are felt most keenly that ‘I … (am) good enough to do strengths, would have done any and are hardest to resist. something worthwhile, and in my Responses to such individuals often of this on their own. Together, own right’. require within youth work a very within youth work contexts and However, again paradoxically, delicate negotiation, taken at the with the skilled support of youth it is precisely out of the youth Out of youth workers’ work in and young person’s pace and with the workers, they have generated worker’s close and often intimate with groups, without resort to support offered only when they are ‘outcomes’ well beyond the sum involvement with young people in elaborate assessment frameworks ready to tell their story themselves of their groups’ individual parts. their groups – via for example ‘a or referral procedures, individuals – ‘… when I was comfortable to do whole weekend devoted to you’ - also find their way to the support so’. Yet within the open and ‘free’ …to individuals… that many often hidden or masked they need for dealing with acute space of youth work young people individual needs emerge and get and potentially disabling personal may both accept very practical With all their strengths however, as responses. The gains then may be problems – support which they support – such as a bus pass to was acknowledged above, groups as practical as finding a football may never deliberately go looking help protect them from police

43 4. Practising

harassment – and gain the worker. However, within the melee spend a week just listening to young have to be allowed to take control emotional learning which this can of group activity and churning people, giving them a chance – for of expensive equipment. After an bring. It may be remembered in relationships that are the public the first time apparently – to say apparently anxious young woman a very generalised way, as ‘talk image of so much youth work, what they think and want. In a drop- has rejected one offer to talk, a about anything in the world… such individualised approaches in, gentle advances and inoffensive worker may need to take a chance …family problems, pregnancies, and ‘outcomes’ will usually remain questions are for weeks rebuffed. on a second very different approach. school issues, friend problems and hidden. Most certainly – especially A whole intimate conversation And the risk may have to be taken a lot more…’, producing ‘the best what has been prevented – will is carried on by an exchange of that conversations will suddenly advice anyone could give’. Or it go unrecorded and unquantified written notes. After the gait of a break out within a group of traveller may be very focused: impromptu even though for the young people young men betrays to the worker young women on topics of which ‘counselling’ for a young woman concerned they may have acted as that he is carrying a knife, the most their mothers would not approve. living for years with the trauma a prop during grim times and could significant ‘content’ of the follow of seeing a brother beaten up by occasionally have been be life- up exchange is what is not said – …in the ‘community’ the police and for another on the changing – or even life-saving. but mutually understood. The very verge of self-harming; or over success of these ‘conversations’ What this last example also the years sustaining a relationship …via complex communication, may depend on a tricky judgement illustrates is that the much-vaunted with a young woman after a towards consistent and that, here and now and despite the ‘community’ within which youth custodial sentence who’s been trustworthy relationships… risks involved, words might actually work operates may be a far more left behind by her peers. be unhelpful, even damaging. complicated phenomenon than is The communication between young suggested by the current slick Big Often such work will require what person and youth worker which Indeed, risk-taking emerges Society rhetoric. On a marginalised one of the story writers described in feeds these relationships is often from the stories as an essential estate, a youth club may indeed discussion as ‘a nuanced approach’ complex and sometimes barely (if – integral – ingredient of the trust- find itself acting as a community’s – particularly for example to discern at all) dependent on words: as one building process on which youth ‘last nerve ending – close it down the deep personal hurt that may worker put it, the product of using work relationships depend. Thus, and you lose the feel for what’s underlie a young black woman’s two ears and one mouth in that for ‘walls of antagonism’ to begin going on’. Elsewhere, it was clearly overtly racist reaction to a white proportion. Detached workers thus to come down, young people may important for an isolated young

44 4. Practising

man struggling with problems at feature of this community and those not living in the community ‘sharing some of their own home to know that the detached many others. Though for them where they work, some blurring of clandestine activity’. work team used the local café, community roots were vital, a highly professional-personal boundaries while workers known to some of disruptive group of young women is seen as crucial if they are to build For one young man such openness the young people from contacts in needed to take a long bumpy youth the trust essential to making the had left a ‘most influential memory their home area found they had a work journey before, in the eyes voluntary relationship with young (of) a youth worker who talked bit of a head start when they met of other residents, they could find people work. Thus, one worker, about their own loss of a family them again in the town centre. anything like a positive place within as well as owning up to mistakes, member’ in a way which for him it. Nor were those black young openly acknowledged to the student ‘made the world a better place’. On the other hand, as the traveller men constantly being stopped and he was ‘teaching’ that he knew For another it helped him access story vividly demonstrates, where searched by the police likely to look nothing about a key element of ‘a range of positive adult role they are particularly close-knit and on all aspects of their ‘community’ the subject matter – motorbikes. models’. However because, as fiercely independent, communities as positive features in their lives. The worker seeking access to a another worker put it, youth work is can also impose highly constraining If, as educators, youth workers close community of travellers saw ‘not just a job’, by ‘going the extra expectations, even requirements, are to fulfil their commitment to it as important to share learning mile’ it could also for the worker making them very hard for a stretch and challenge young people, from her own sometimes difficult have unintended and maybe even youth worker to access. For many finding clear – though, again, adolescent experience, while during unwelcome personal consequences young people, too, ‘community’ respectful – pathways through the a testing emotional exchange – such as getting a phone call can be experienced as far from contradictory pressures embedded another worker at one point made from a distressed young person in harmonious, not least because in ‘community’ will often demand it explicit to the young person that the middle of a Boxing Day meal. of how they themselves may subtle judgements and difficult she was responding ‘as a mother’. It could also pose some testing behave within it and be treated by practical choices. professional ethical dilemmas – it. It was after all in a park close In very different circumstances, over for example whether and how to the youth centre that a youth From the professional to the a worker’s admission that they to use crucial ‘intelligence’ on worker first realised that a centre personal had, without their parents knowing, knife-carrying picked up during a member was carrying a knife – worked all night at a club, proved family expedition to the local park. an increasingly de-harmonising By many youth workers, even the trigger for the young people

45 4. Practising

Activities – ‘vehicles’, or ends in off – about racism, about violence, he wanted. In youth work settings and needs of other young people? themselves? about youth unemployment’. which are much more clearly ‘open Will these young women feel that access’, such shifts in motivation what they have baked is good Some of these stories also Yet activities which youth work may occur too – as when as a result enough to be enjoyed by their illustrate youth work’s complicated initiates are often valued as ends simply of sitting around in the families? Will this health workshop relationship with the often in themselves, with ‘impacts’ in worker’s office young people learnt be engaging enough to motivate recreational ‘activities’ it promotes. the here-and-now felt by the young to use a typewriter or as trust built this young man to start coming Graffiti art, drama and film-making, person to be as important as any a shoe-making workshop morphed to the youth centre; will this litter-picking and gardening contributions they might make to from ‘hippie-sandal making residential course be well enough projects, cooking and eating longer-term personal or social crap’ into on an opportunity to thought out and presented to together – none, at least initially, ‘transitions’. As a minimum, they repair Doc Martens. ensure these young people become may be selected as an end in may be rated just for the ‘fun’ competent mentors? Though in itself and certainly not because these provide – what the young Indeed as the focus on the task youth work the quality of the it might lead to an accredited man quoted above described as grows, achieving as high a standard journey is always crucial, youth outcome. On the contrary, youth otherwise unavailable opportunities as possible may also become workers have to keep a very work’s conventional wisdom would for ‘shar(ing) many happy times important. How effective, both sharp eye, too, on the potential assert that such activities are to with friends and the centre staff young people and workers may importance to young people of be valued primarily as vehicles for on outings to the beach, football start to ask, will this artwork be its ultimate destination. carrying young people on testing tournaments, bike rides’. in convincing local councillors personal and emotional journeys. to open up a new town centre Working in partnership – in young This might include developing a However, as the work develops, facility? Can we make this script, people’s interests ‘relationship with the youth centre for many young people the activity our acting, the filming powerful and the staff … so that at critical in itself may become increasingly enough to convince other young At moments these stories also moments in my life I was confident significant. For the young man people not to carry knives? give us glimpses into ‘partnership- enough to go to the centre and ask planning a virtual trip round the How skilled will these young working’ which, like ‘community’, for help’. Or they would highlight world, this was indisputable as he women be on the local youth is now too readily viewed by policy- ‘the discussions that suddenly took strived to get the qualifications forum in representing the interests makers and managers as another

46 self-evident ‘good’. Yet here too to fulfil youth work’s commitment also of management procedures the realities can be complicated. to help tip some of the balances of which underrate or marginalise the For one thing, as was acknowledged power in their favour. This emerges distinctive ways in which youth work by one worker interviewed, other as especially true when the task operates and achieves its impacts. services may discover youth work is ‘to get us youth and the police The demise of the skinhead drop- only ‘when things go wrong or to co-operate’, as it is in a number in also vividly illustrates how – at least when they aren’t going of the stories – though, soberingly, well before the ConDem cuts hit right – about guns, gangs, knives, one young man is very clear that – funding for even the best youth teenage pregnancy, terrorism’. ‘a lot of the time it didn’t work’, work has been hand-to-mouth. ‘Partnership working’ then may not least because ‘at the age we suddenly emerge because – was at … let’s face it, everyone liked referring back to an earlier image a police chase’! – other professionals know that, ‘their particular “pot” (is) already Management and funding simmering’ within the youth centre, thereby making some of their The ‘graffiti’ and, less explicitly, targets more attainable. the PRU and the ‘knife crime’ stories are encouraging for youth Though none were chosen workers in showing internal specifically for this reason, it is managerial systems, at least up therefore not surprising perhaps to 2009-10, actively supporting the that, albeit in different ways, most face-to-face work. The example of of the stories where partnership the girls’ group, however, suggests working figures at least indicate something rather different: that or imply how hard youth workers insofar as there is ‘impact’, it may have to work to ensure it works in have been achieved in spite not young people’s interests – not least, just of managers’ attitudes but

47 5. What future for youth work?

Since these stories were written Which is precisely why the In those cuts in state funding have Defence of Youth Work campaign across the country made the future has gathered these stories, as of youth work – to put it at its qualitative evidence of youth work’s mildest - increasingly uncertain. distinctive and positive approach to Indeed, as the account of the the complexities and imponderables knife crime project was being of young people’s lives. It is also finalised the very existence of the why IDYW has joined with the youth centre which initiated it was unions and other campaigning under serious threat, while the groups to try and preserve the young man’s account of why young facilities through which youth work people still need youth clubs was is provided and defend the posts written as a contribution to a public and the skills of workers essential campaign to save the whole of his to achieving the impacts policy- local authority Youth Service from makers seek – and which young closure. people value, and deserve.

48 6. Campaigning and educating

Given In Defence of Youth Work’s work as an integral and significant context and lessons for practice, stress on the importance of process element in the provision of services together with young people speaking in youth work, it should come as for young people. However the about what youth work means to no surprise that we lay great store case for a democratic youth work them. Campaigning is best done by the means through which the is in harmony with the broader from the ground up and you will booklet and DVD might be used. argument for public services within have your own ideas of how to use Whilst gathering the stories we which workers and users take the the ‘ Stories’ in your local area. The have been involved in passionate lead in creating provision that is following are merely suggestions: and challenging discussions accountable, responsive and not for about the character of youth work profit. Presentations itself and its interaction with the constraints experienced by Potentially the example of Many people will be interested to other agencies. We hope that the democratic youth work illustrates hear about the qualitative impact booklet and DVD will spark similar how a partnership between of youth work, for example trade animated debate amongst those the state and voluntary sectors union branches, local authority who read, listen to and watch its might be renewed with the latter staff, voluntary sector meetings content. Thus below we offer some rediscovering its vital role as a and workers’ conferences. The DVD suggestions about how it might critical and proudly independent and a selection of stories (which be used. ‘friend’, as an expression of civil are recorded on the DVD as well society in action. as contained in the booklet) can be It is intended that the booklet/DVD used to introduce the issue to the will be distributed widely amongst ‘This Is Youth Work’ not only different audiences and stimulate politicians, managers, public speaks for itself, but is a flexible debate. Possible questions for sector trade unionists, welfare campaigning and educational discussion can be found on our and education workers. Of course resource. As well as the stories In Defence website. its primary focus is on enhancing in written and recited versions, people’s understanding of youth it includes analysis of the social

49 6. Campaigning and educating

Lobbying aware of what is happening to youth a session plan which can be Support for your campaign work services and that the defence adapted for your setting, whether If you have contact with sympathetic of these services is fully linked it is a youth club, detached Costs/distance permitting IDYW decision-makers such as local into overall anti-cuts campaigns. project, youth democracy project activists from the steering group councillors, MPs, civil servants or an independent group such as and beyond could be available, and local government officers, Training, staff development and Woodcraft Folk. especially at an initial stage, to be a voluntary organisation trustees educational contexts supportive part of this process. and managers, send them a copy Sharing and producing of ‘This Is Youth Work’. Follow up We hope that the resource will local stories Get in touch through the with a call or email to ask them be utilised within youth work, Co-ordinator at their response and how they feel community education, social The booklet/DVD might well be [email protected] that they might use it, pressing the work and trade union training and used as a template/stimulus by need for open and public debate. education. The text of the stories youth workers and young people This will be particularly useful and could be explored alongside in search of their own stories. necessary in areas where youth sections of the analysis to start The appearance of stories grounded services are being cut and/or discussions in small groups, as in local cultures would be restructured. a complement to watching the particularly powerful. You will find DVD. Again suggested themes for online an outline of the [‘Socratic’] Linking up with other campaigns discussion will be found online. method we used to collect a and campaign groups number of our stories As we hope With youth groups that our effort is but a starting Defending youth work provision is of point rather than an end in itself, course only one contribution to the The DVD ought to be especially we are keen to discuss posting defence of public services overall. effective in getting young people your versions of the youth work Consider therefore how the booklet/ to air their views and consider experience on our site or indeed DVD can be used to ensure that how they can defend their club in future publications. other groups and campaigns are or project. Our web site contains

50 For further information and support

Web sites and blogs Publications

In Defence of Youth Work site, which will include a section The Benefits of Youth Work, LLUK and UNITE [2010] available as pdf. dedicated to ‘THIS IS YOUTH WORK’ containing the booklet in pdf form and the video. Informal Learning in Youth Work, Janet Batsleer [2009] Sage:London. http://www.indefenceofyouthwork.org.uk/wordpress The Purposes and Outcomes of Youth Work, Maurice Devlin and Anne UNISON site Gunning [2009] Irish Youth Work Press. http://www.unison.org.uk Youth Work : A Manifesto for Our Times, Bernard Davies [2005] Community and Youth Workers in Unite (CYWU) Youth &Policy, 88 http://www.cywu.org.uk/

UNITE site. http://www.unitetheunion.org/

51 Supported by UNISON’s General Political Fund