14.6.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 168/5

1.

European cooperation in the youth field (1) which identifies well-being and social inclusion as two of its eight fields of action and emphasises the support and development of youth work as a cross-sectoral response in meeting the overall objectives of the framework; and which recommends an increasing focus on social inclusion, health and well-being of young people;

2.

the Communication from the Commission ‘Europe 2020’ as endorsed by the European Council which recognises the role of youth work as a provider of non-formal learning opportunities to all young people;

3.

Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (2);

4.

the Joint Conclusions of the EU Youth Conference organised by the Irish Presidency, 11-13 March 2013 (3);

5.

the Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 19 November 2010, on youth work which calls for better understanding of and an enhanced role, specifically in relation to the promotion, support and development of youth work on a range of levels,

6.

Young people actively contribute to the social infrastructure and to the vibrancy of communities, both geographical and communities of interest. Young people comprise a diverse and dynamic population with different realities, needs, demands and aspirations. Demography, biography, diversity, transitions and opportunities are issues which impact directly on, and occasionally define, young people. Therefore, youth policy should be reflective of and responsive to such issues, be both enabling and empowering and promote equal opportunities for all young people.

7.

‘Youth work’ is a broad term covering a broad scope of activities of a social, cultural, educational or political nature by, with and for young people. Increasingly, such activities also include sport and services for young people. Youth work belongs to the area of ‘out-of-school’ education, as well as specific leisure time activities managed by professional or voluntary youth workers and youth leaders. Youth work is organised in different ways (by youth-led organisations, organisations for youth, informal groups or through youth services and public authorities). It is delivered in different forms and settings (e.g. open-access, group-based, programme-based, outreach and detached) and is given shape at local, regional, national and European level.

8.

Youth work focuses on the personal and social development of young people and has an extended reach which accesses and engages young people based on their needs and interests and takes account of their environment. Such coverage and reach complements other policy responses for young people and therefore youth work can offer young people points of contact, association and progression.

9.

Social inclusion requires a comprehensive and cross-sectoral approach to address the multi-faceted nature of marginalisation and exclusion in society.

10.

Youth work plays an important role in preventing social exclusion and enhancing social inclusion. Youth work offers developmental spaces and opportunities for all young people and ‘is based on non-formal and informal learning process (4) and on voluntary participation’ (5).

11.

Effective youth work and youth initiatives seek to empower young people and encourage their active participation in society. It equips them with skills, competences and experiences for life, thereby maximising the protective factors which enhance the development, well-being, autonomy and social inclusion of all young people, including those with fewer opportunities.

12.

Quality youth work is a commitment to continually ensuring and enhancing optimum youth work provision and practice for young people. It’s about youth organisations, youth services and youth workers working with relevant stakeholders to plan and deliver activities and programmes that are relevant and responsive to young people's interests, needs and experiences, and which are evidence-informed and outcomes-focused. The result of quality youth work should be that young people derive maximum benefit from their participation in youth work,

13.

Social inclusion should accommodate and include all young people and the issues they face, with special emphasis on those with fewer opportunities.

The potential of youth work to contribute to policy objectives including social inclusion can be further optimised through a quality-focused and evidence-informed approach which places young people centre-stage in the design and the delivery of youth work provision. This approach supports young people’s participation, development and progression in a way which affirms their strengths, enhances resilience and competences and recognises their potential to build individual, communal and social capital. Quality youth work is a universal theme which benefits young people, improves the practice of youth work, and contributes to broader policy aims.

14.

In aiming to ensure that youth work is relevant and responsive to both the interests and needs of young people and to optimise its role in contributing to their development, well-being and social inclusion, the following priorities have been identified:

15.

promote, through the open method of coordination, a strengthening of relationships, both in policy and practice, with youth-related areas such as health, education and training, employment, culture and sport;

16.

promote, in youth work provision and practice, an emphasis on quality and the attainment of youth work outcomes which contribute to the development, well-being and social inclusion of young people;

17.

support greater collaboration amongst all youth work stakeholders (in particular researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, practitioners and young people) to determine the impact of quality youth work, for young people themselves, the youth sector and related policy areas, e.g. through the development of evidence of the impact of quality youth work and by facilitating and improving the recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning at national and EU levels;

18.

encourage and support young people through education, civil society and quality youth initiatives to participate in democratic life and to make use of existing and new tools to contribute to policy development, thereby enhancing their development, well-being and social inclusion;

19.

promote, through quality youth work opportunities and programmes, experiential learning and skills development, including transferable skills for young people, and the recognition and validation of such skills and competences;

20.

support the youth sector in developing its structures, working methods and channels of communication so as to reach out to more young people, especially those at risk of social exclusion;

21.

stimulate and support volunteer-led involvement in youth provision to promote diversity, social inclusion and build social capital;

22.

promote the contribution of quality youth work by maximising funding opportunities to support effective youth work;

23.

encourage, through the relevant programmes, platforms and resource repositories, the European and international exchange of good practices, training, skills acquisition and peer-learning in relation to quality-focused youth work;

24.

establish a thematic expert group to examine youth work quality systems in EU Member States with a view to exploring how common indicators or frameworks may be developed. The work of this group will be informed by the forthcoming study of the European Commission. This will culminate in a report outlining recommendations to be presented to the Youth Working Party. A draft outline of the suggested terms of reference and membership of this thematic expert group is contained in the Annex,

25.

seek to build on the findings of its forthcoming study on the value of youth work in identifying what initiatives are required to promote quality-based and effective youth work;

26.

take account of other research studies and initiatives in this area. Disseminate the findings and develop learning for the policy, research, practice and youth communities, and for related policy areas;

27.

consider a suitable follow-up to the forthcoming study on the value of youth work and the outcome of the thematic expert group on quality youth work.