Do young people have a right to access youth work activity?

How does youth work uphold the UNCRC?

Youth work plays a key role in delivering the principles outlined in the UNCRC - particularly Article 12, the right of the young person to voice their opinion, have their views listened to and be taken seriously.

By engaging young people in social activism - youth work builds citizenship, respect for human rights and a sense of mutual responsibility.

Youth work is an empowering practice which offers young people opportunities to exercise genuine power – to take decisions, follow them through and take responsibility for their consequences.

Youth Work has three essential features:

Young people choose to participate

The work must build from where young people are

Youth Work recognises the young person and the youth worker as partners in a learning process

All Local Authorities having some sort of youth work provision.

Further reading

Youthlink - Statement on the Nature and Purpose of Youth Work Layout 1 (youthlink.scot)

Published Jan 2024