What is Youth Work and Why is it Helping UK Communities?

It goes without saying that becoming a youth worker is rewarding; did you know that Bolton’s Youth Leads UK celebrated their ten-year anniversary in September last year with a prestigious event to celebrate the youth of Greater Manchester?  

At the University of Bolton, we can help you start your journey towards making a difference of your own with our BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work degree. Studying in a supportive learning environment where our students and their needs are at the heart of everything that we do, we ensure that our student’s university experience is #UniAsItShouldBe. 

What is youth work? 

In its broadest sense, youth work refers to taking a holistic approach to young people aged 11-25, according to the National Youth Agency (NYA). Essentially, the success of youth work is based on the voluntary relationship between the young people and the youth worker, as despite many professionals working with young people, in youth work, it is ultimately the young person’s decision to choose to engage with the professional.  

Youth work aims to promote people’s personal and social development, and thereby aim to give them a voice within their local communities.  

Responsibilities of a youth worker  

If you’re caring and committed to helping young people thrive, then you have the fundamentals to become a successful youth worker.  UCAS recognises the key responsibilities of a social worker as: 

- Organising social, recreational, and educational activities in local communities  

- Encouraging parents to establish playgroups  

- Providing advice to those with particular needs or problems through informal discussion, individual counselling, or formal group discussions  

- Supporting volunteers in running groups in places such as village halls, churches, and mosques  

- Managing the daily running of community centres and supervising activities run by part-time voluntary workers  

The role of youth work in improving communities  

It’s no secret that most young people today spend their day buried in a phone, iPad, or computer. In fact, most are known to spend around 7.5 hours in front of a screen each day! 

Of course, this has had negative effects on mental health, particularly when it comes to peer pressure as a result of social media. This is where the role of youth workers in communities is essential. Organising recreational activities and contributing to running local community centres gives young people a safe place to switch off, get out of the house, and socialise with people face-to-face. The form of communication that was done before the days of technology! In fact, youth workers admit that young people are as interested in the world as anyone, but they have more practical daily concerns, like doing well in school, or securing a job or university place. It’s clear that there is a link between the society we are aiming to provide and the chances we offer future generations, so therefore, youth work is a rewarding career for keeping young people on the right path.  

Why study a community development and youth work degree at Bolton 

Does the role of a youth worker sound like the right choice for you? If the answer is yes, with 71,427 vacancies in the last year, there’s never been a better time to start your career journey.  

As a BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work degree student at Bolton, you will:  

- Engage in 800 hours of fieldwork experience, providing flexible and adaptable skills and knowledge needed to pursue a successful career. This is something that we can offer due to our excellent links with over 70 partners and external agencies in youth and community centres, schools, alternative education projects, women’s refuges and community projects, to name a few  

- Study a course that was the first in the Northwest to be professionally recognised by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth Work (JNC) and the NYA 

- Study a course that has been designed in consultation with industry employers  

- Have access to caring and experienced academic and pastoral support from lecturers who are experts in the community development and youth work sector  

- Stay up-to-date with your development and understanding of key theories of personal and social change that affect young people and communities today 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at our full course details and take your first steps to joining the positive and inclusive environment we offer at the University of Bolton. You can even visit us in person at one of our upcoming Open Days; speak to our students and lecturers, tour our small and friendly campus, and get a first-hand feel for why we have been voted first for Student Satisfaction!* 

For more information, please get in touch with us at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call on 01204 903807. 

*Complete University Guide – Student Satisfaction – Northwest – 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019