This book explores a wide range of theoretical perspectives that guide the practice of community and youth work and related occupational fields. It provides a range of practical activities to encourage readers to explore their own theoretical position, while critically engaging with the contemporary theoretical context that is shaping the development of community and youth work practice. Students will find this book an invaluable tool in developing their understanding of theory, and it will help them to holistically and systematically apply their understanding of theory to their relevant practice situation.

With the proposed development of the ′youth professional′ and the consolidation of graduate professional qualifications, this is an important time for youth work. This book sets out the current state of debate about youth work for those considering, or about to embark on, a degree course. Contemporary debates in youth work are explored, and help to give students a sense of its history and its future contribution. By combining the experience of its editors and the contemporaneous experience of the voices of contributors, this book provides an excellent introduction to work as a youth worker in the twenty-first century.

This authoritative text is a must-read for anyone working, or training to work, with young people. It considers how theory, policy and practice intersect and influence one another in today’s challenging and rapidly changing social, economic, and political contexts. Offering a timely contribution to the debate, it covers key themes and developments, including the principles that underpin work with young people, the policy and practice in a wide range of contexts, both national and international, the key concepts currently high on the policy and practice agenda, and how we understand the lives of young people, in particular investigating their ‘real worlds’ and understanding their social construction.

The book provides a much needed fresh and radical perspective of the professional role, identifying novel and innovative interpretations of and trajectories for practice.Breaking away from ideas mostly framed by academics and/or those with relatively limited practice focus, with contributions from a diverse group of 'chalk face' workers as well as references to authentic practice situations, Belton reorients youth work to respond to the actual experience of young people and those working for their interests and growth.Rejecting deficit models as part of the hangover from the roots of modern exploitation, Belton offers an anti-colonial model of practice that understands youth work as a 'guerrilla profession'. Calling on the likes of Che Guevara and confronting 'surveillance society', Developing Critical Youth Work Theory is an exciting, informative and above all an inspiring read for anyone working with, alongside or for young people.Dr Brian Belton is a Senior Lecture at the YMCA George Williams College in London, the largest trainer of professional youth and community workers in the world. Brian has taught and practiced youth work all over the planet, from East London to Shanghai, from the Falkland Islands to Toronto for more than thirty years. An international authority on Roma, Gypsy and Traveller ethnicity and popular sporting culture, he is a prolific writer of more than 30 books and in Developing Critical Youth Work Theory he has produced a work, aimed at professionals, working and/or in training, who are involved with young people in the local community context.

Some of the most energetic, effective, and passionate activists involved in grassroots politics are young people--but their voices are rarely heard in policy, research, or public debate. This book remedies that, giving young activists their due and showing the effects of passionate social service practitioners who build relationships with marginalized young people in the face of spending cuts and shifting governmental priorities. Written by an experienced youth worker, Grassroots Youth Work uses interviews, dialogue, and excerpts from research diaries to bring youth work to life in both theory and practice.

Professional practice is at the heart of youth work training but integrating the theory learned in class with the reality of placements can sometimes require extra support. This comprehensive textbook is designed to help students working with young people become competent and ethical practitioners, able to reflect on their learning and interventions in young people’s lives. Divided into three parts, this core text: provides an understanding of and commitment to the principles of youth work explores how contexts shape youth work demonstrates the core practice skills that are required to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people. Engaging and practice-driven, this is an essential text for all students learning about working with young people, whether on youth work or allied courses. It includes case-studies, tasks, further reading and reflective questions to help readers make connections between their own knowledge and practice.

Showcases the value of professional work with young people as it is practiced in diverse forms, and in locations from around the world.

This book focuses on the nature of cross-cultural practice, an inevitable aspect of working as a youth and community worker in multicultural Britain today. It enables students to understand how cross-cultural dynamics can set the tone of their relationships with their clients and helps them to understand how individual action and some processes in society can contribute to the marginalisation of others. This book looks at the processes involved in the everyday relationships forged through practice and how these can inadvertently influence the dynamics of oppression through lack of self-awareness or lack of awareness of ′others′ in society.

In today′s society, many young people feel marginalised and unable to find their own voice. It is vital therefore that youth workers are able to work with them to tackle this in a meaningful way. Drawing on the real experiences and difficulties faced by youth workers, this book will help those who want to work with young people in an empowering way. The concepts of empowerment and participation are explained, explored and critically analysed, along with the key notion of resilience. This is backed up by activities and case studies which help to bring together the theory and the practice.

With the topics of community and how local communities can be supported to take control of their lives, services, and environment still high on the public agenda, this second edition of an invaluable guide provides a timely introduction to community development, its origins, and the different forms it takes. Updated to reflect developments in policy and practices, current trends and challenges, as well as recent debates about the changing nature of community itself, it also shows how community development can be applied in a variety of policy areas. Accessibly written, this guide will remain essential reading for community organizers and students of community development.