1. The Contribution of Youth Work to Equality in Education Dr Maurice Devlin NUI Maynooth

2. The Purpose of Youth Work Youth work as welfare? Youth work as welfare? Youth work as recreation? Youth work as recreation? Youth work as education….. Youth work as education…..

3. Recent Policy Developments Youth Work Act 2001 Youth Work Act 2001 National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007

4. Youth Work Act 2001 Definition of Youth Work: A planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young persons through their voluntary involvement…which is A planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young persons through their voluntary involvement…which is a) complementary to their formal, academic or vocational training; and b) provided primarily by voluntary youth work organisations.

5. Youth Work Act 2001 ‘Particular regard’ to matters of: ‘Particular regard’ to matters of: gender gender social & economic disadvantage social & economic disadvantage Irish language Irish language

6. National Youth Work Development Plan Vision of youth work Vision of youth work Educators/educational process Educators/educational process Positive contribution Positive contribution Volantarism Volantarism Rights and citizenship Rights and citizenship Equality and inclusiveness Equality and inclusiveness Relationships with other services Relationships with other services

7. Equality and Inclusiveness The NYWDP The NYWDP is committed to “a vision of youth work which values diversity, aims to eradicate injustice and inequality, and strives for openness and inclusiveness…..” is committed to “a vision of youth work which values diversity, aims to eradicate injustice and inequality, and strives for openness and inclusiveness…..” “aims to uphold in spirit as well as in letter the provisions of the Equal Status Act…..” “aims to uphold in spirit as well as in letter the provisions of the Equal Status Act…..”

8. Achieving Equality through Youth Work Practical initiatives/programmes Practical initiatives/programmes “Second chance”…or first chance! “Second chance”…or first chance! Youth work & schools…“infiltration”? Youth work & schools…“infiltration”? Partnerships with other agencies Partnerships with other agencies Relationship and process Relationship and process Political and policy dimension Political and policy dimension

9. Clallenges & Tensions Difficult work Difficult work Institutional/philosophical differences Institutional/philosophical differences Resources Resources “Results” “Results”