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The Impact of Youth Work on Youth Participation

Youth voice matters. Discover how youth work empowers young people to become active community members, access their rights, and engage with democracy.

Impact

Youth work is instrumental in promoting active citizenship and ensuring that young people have a strong voice in their communities.

By positioning young people at the heart of the decision-making process, we help them develop the skills and confidence needed to influence change. Through youth councils, forums, and regular consultation sessions, youth work ensures that their voices are heard and valued.

Youth work’s impact on participation and youth voice extends beyond individual growth. It strengthens the democratic fabric of our society, ensuring that young people are not only prepared to contribute, but also to lead the way in building inclusive, vibrant communities.

Insights & Opinions

Find out what people in the youth work sector and beyond have to say about the impact of youth work on youth participation.

Safeguarding as Leadership: How Youth Work Builds Safer Futures
Vicky Ledgerwood, Gender-Based Violence Prevention Coordinator, details the ways St. Paul’s Youth Forum have been creating safe and supportive spaces for young people, and working to prevent harm before it begins.
Confronting Public Perceptions of Young People
This blog by #IWill Ambassador Gemma Hickey’s takes a look at confronting public perceptions of young people.
Jen Murray
Youth Volunteering
Jen Murray, former Development Officer for Youth Volunteering, shares her experiences of getting into youth work as a young volunteer.
Against the Odds - The Experiences and Struggles of Influencing Change
#IWill Ambassador Niamh Mackenize’s blog is all about some of the difficulties she has had to face during her social action journey.

People & Projects

View some of the key projects, case studies, people and organisations that are exploring the impacts of youth work on youth participation.

The Impact of Youth Volunteering
Find out more about how taking a youth work approach to volunteering helps create happier, healthier, more cohesive communities across Scotland.
Volunteer Scotland logo
Young People in Scotland Survey 2022
Download the full report to get the full picture on young people’s involvement in volunteering in Scotland.
Police Scotland Youth Volunteers
Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV) Academic Evaluation
Police Scotland commissioned the first ever academic-led evaluation of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers programme in 2024. Running over two and a half years, the evaluation sought to understand more about the difference the programme makes in the lives of young people in our communities, as well as further benefits experienced by local areas through having youth volunteering embedded.

Publications

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