Universities of Lincoln, Luton and Durham, Joseph Rowntree
Foundation, 2004
This research represents the first major national study
of street-based youth work in England and Wales, and asks
how target-driven youth initiatives and time-limited funding
affect street-based youth work, how it links with the Connexions
service, and what policy developments would be needed to
maximise its impact. It was based on a national survey of
projects, interviews with project heads, youth workers and
young people, a user survey and user case studies, 11 project
visits and the administration of a social exclusion inventory
to 96 young people.
Street-based projects are an important source of information
on education and career opportunities for young people who
are often out of contact with any other agencies. The report
suggests that such projects can also be successful in reintroducing
young people to education, training and employment and supporting
their entry to it. Projects aimed at young people at highest
risk and in the most need often also work with less problematic
teenagers within the same social groups; it has been found
that these teenagers can provide a powerful influence and
support system for their more troubled peers.
However, the distribution of these projects is uneven,
and it was estimated that street-based youth work is in
touch with 1.2% of 14-19 year-olds, of which 62% were men.
Tight targets and short-term funding are seen to cause problems
for the often slow-moving and long-term process of creating
a trusting relationship with a disadvantaged young person
and helping to change their life.
However, a complementary costing exercise supported by
the National Youth Agency showed that a systematic street-based
youth service would cost a small fraction of the amount
spent on other services targeted at this group. Effective
youth work can help re-engage young people with education
at 4% of the cost spent on secondary schools, so its systematic
funding may offer good value for money.
Despite apprehension among some youth workers about the
advent of Connexions, it appears that Connexions and street-based
project workers can work together effectively. In all cases
though, it may be necessary to wait a while before quantifiable
results become evident.
To download the full report visit www.jrf.org.uk
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