The Contribution of Youth The Contribution of Youth Work to Equality in Work to Equality in

EducationEducationDr Maurice DevlinDr Maurice Devlin

NUI MaynoothNUI Maynooth

The Purpose of Youth WorkThe Purpose of Youth Work

Youth work as welfare?Youth work as welfare?

Youth work as recreation?Youth work as recreation?

Youth work as Youth work as educationeducation…..…..

Recent Policy DevelopmentsRecent Policy Developments

Youth Work Act 2001Youth Work Act 2001 National Youth Work Development National Youth Work Development

Plan 2003-2007Plan 2003-2007

Youth Work Act 2001Youth Work Act 2001

Definition of Youth Work:Definition of Youth Work:

A planned programme of education designed for A planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young personal and social development of young persons through their voluntary involvement…persons through their voluntary involvement…which iswhich is

a) complementary to their formal, academic or a) complementary to their formal, academic or vocational training; andvocational training; and

b) provided primarily by voluntary youth work b) provided primarily by voluntary youth work organisationsorganisations. .

Youth Work Act 2001Youth Work Act 2001

‘‘Particular regard’ to matters of:Particular regard’ to matters of: gendergender social & economic disadvantagesocial & economic disadvantage Irish languageIrish language

National Youth Work National Youth Work Development Plan Development Plan

Vision of youth workVision of youth work Educators/educational processEducators/educational process Positive contributionPositive contribution VolantarismVolantarism Rights and citizenshipRights and citizenship Equality and inclusivenessEquality and inclusiveness Relationships with other servicesRelationships with other services

Equality and InclusivenessEquality and Inclusiveness

The NYWDPThe NYWDP is committed to “a vision of youth work is committed to “a vision of youth work

which values diversity, aims to eradicate which values diversity, aims to eradicate injustice and inequality, and strives for injustice and inequality, and strives for openness and inclusiveness…..”openness and inclusiveness…..”

““aims to uphold in spirit as well as in aims to uphold in spirit as well as in letter the provisions of the Equal Status letter the provisions of the Equal Status Act…..”Act…..”

Achieving Equality through Achieving Equality through Youth WorkYouth Work

Practical initiatives/programmesPractical initiatives/programmes ““Second chance”…or first chance!Second chance”…or first chance! Youth work & schools…“infiltration”?Youth work & schools…“infiltration”? Partnerships with other agenciesPartnerships with other agencies Relationship and processRelationship and process Political and policy dimensionPolitical and policy dimension

Clallenges & TensionsClallenges & Tensions

Difficult workDifficult work Institutional/philosophical differencesInstitutional/philosophical differences ResourcesResources ““Results”Results”