Introductory guide to outreach youth work practices in rural areas

The basis of this material was created as a part of the strategic partnership project “Promotion of Youth Services and Outreach Youth Work”, no 2020 1 LV02 KA205 003139 financed by the European Union Erasmus+ program. This project was the ongoing collaboration between three organizations association Creative Minds for Culture (Latvia), Elektrenu kulturos centras (Lithuania) and Centrul Pentru Dezvoltare Comunitara Durabila (Romania).

The aim of the project was to create methodological material for the development of outreach youth work for work with young people at risk Those who are involved in youth work, youth workers from Latvia, Romania and Lithuania during the project developed their competences for outreach youth work through mutual learning and exchange of experience The project improved the quality of outreach youth work in Latvia, Lithuania and Romania by promoting the availability of services for young people at risk and it strengthened the capacity of Latvian, Lithuanian and Romanian organizations working with young people from risk groups in outreach youth work. The project involved two learning mobilities a study visit in Lithuania “Outreach youth work practices in rural area” and a training course in Latvia "Outreach Youth Work and Promotion of Youth Work Services" The content written in this material is a part of the reflections and the results of the learning mobilities.

Manual was produced by:

Creative Minds for Culture (Latvia)

Elektrenu kulturos centras (Lithuania) Centrul Pentru Dezvoltare Comunitara Durabila (Romania)

Contributions by: Linda Kalniņa Roderte, Adina Marina Şerban, Anca Irimia, Nerijus Miginis

The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES, OF STREET YOUTH WORK

Detached youth work is a methodological approach to working with young people. This specific approach integrates informal and non-formal learning principles and practices, with youth workers working directly with young people for their personal and professional development. Like any other methodological approach, the detached youth work is based on the relationships that young people and the youth worker build, acceptance and support being the basic principles. Specific to this type of approach is the fact that the intervention no longer takes place in the territory of the youth worker (youth club, youth centre, institutional spaces, etc.) but in the youth space, wherever they choose to be on the street, in cafes, in shopping centres, etc. Thus, the working relationship is built in these spaces and continues to be a flexible one throughout the intervention. In addition to that, the services being provided where young people choose to be, they are perfectly adapted to the needs of young people. In most cases, youth workers work with young people and groups that are not necessarily within the imposed social standards – young people rather marginalised by society, isolated at the level of the social structure (Federation for detached youth work, 2015).

The aim of detached youth work resides in:

The youth worker is an agent of change, not one who practices social control. It is respect that defines the working relationship between the youth worker and the youth group.

Intervention and provision of services take place following a process of negotiation and dialogue – so as to be adapted to the needs of young people.

It aims to ensure the participation of young people in community life. Supports the personal and professional development of young people.

Seeks to bring young people into conventional workspaces.

The youth worker becomes an agency for facilitation and dialogue, connecting young people with other actors in the community. Young people recognize the youth worker, they know exactly what his role is. (Rogers, V., 2001)

What is not detached youth work:

An unstructured model of intervention

A style of work that does not involve financial resources

An immediate mechanism of problem solving

A set of techniques and methodologies used to convince young people to join activities in conventional workspaces.

When do we use detached youth work?

When services provided in conventional spaces do not meet the needs and expectations of young people In urban spaces, even if there is infrastructure In rural areas, where young people have limited access to resources

The working methods with young people in the category of detached youth work working methodologies practised by youth workers outside conventional working spaces (youth centres, culture houses, activity centres coordinated by non governmental organisations, etc.) have been in the Anglo Saxon space since the 19th century. The pioneer of these types of working methodologies is considered T.H Tarlton, making his first visits as a missionary in an attempt to persuade other young people to join the new organization YCCA Young Men (1844) Young Men's Christian Association. However, it was not until the second half of the 19th century that youth workers started their visits in different districts trying to help young people. Also, during the visits, the youth workers were trying to convince young people to join their youth clubs or to set up youth activities and organisations that would help young people (their peers) (Smith, M.K, 1996, 2005).

Detached youth work methodologies could also be perceived as appearing when the youth needs diversified especially at the end of ‘50s when the youth delinquency, drug abuse or alcohol consumption were serious issues and needed intervention. And youth workers started their intervention in areas where young people were dealing with their matters - at the beginning, with short interventions, problem-solving approaches and then to long standing and sustainable projects.

In terms of terminology, detached refers to practising the working methodologies outside the conventional spaces - youth clubs, youth centres, etc. The youth workers would go and approach young people where they are, in their familiar spaces - in the street, in cafes, etc. In terms of attachment, the youth worker would build up relationships with these groups, partner up with local actors from the respective communities and set up projects with and for young people. Moreover, the literature review would show that it should be clear the distinction between outreach youth work when youth workers are trying to bring young people to the conventional youth work practices and detached youth work when the youth worker would work with young people in their familiar and preferred spaces.

As for street youth work, the concept should rather be seen as part of the working methodologies of detached youth work. For street youth work, the youth workers would work with young people in the street and the street is the conventional youth space. Here, on the street, youth workers can set up working spaces - as working vans, caravans, working tents, etc. making clear the delivery of the youth work services in these spaces.

STREET YOUTH WORK PROCESS, STAGES AND DESCRIPTION

Essential to detached youth work practices is the fact that the process is not limited in time and is based on building up the relationship with the group of young people. Also, considering the specificity of the methodology and of the groups of young people involved, the flexibility is at the basis of the work. Once set, one should be aware of the fact that even if theoretically there is a set of clear stages to follow, the specification of the working methodology would require the youth worker and the group to revisit stages. The model we are proposing is based on the model developed here: https://www.cwvys.org.uk/wp content/uploads/2014/06/HB Detached and Outreach Youth Work.pdf

The

Research

Local Information - The area, recent history, previous youth work Trends and statistics - Youth population (age, gender, race), crime and education figures

the Locality

and Facilities People and agencies

Councillors,

groups, schools,

What do they do, what are their views? Facilities and services Leisure, Youth, Health, Education Voluntary what exists, what are young people allowed to use, or not?

Where are local facilities, parks, waste ground, shops, meeting places?

What types of housing types are there and how are they laid out?

Safety Assessment both for staff and young people. Is there evidence of drug selling, inter-estate disturbances or ‘turf wars’?

What information can young people give about the area, would they welcome intervention? This is an opportunity to ask questions and listen. Give information to them about the project, who will be there, when they will be there and what they might be able to offer. This is an opportunity to ensure that the young people are well and correctly informed.

·Getting to know individuals and groups, what are their views and interests, what are their concerns?

·For Detached work, this is a time to learn about young people and what they want, offer emotional support and, with their guidance, develop a programme of intervention. This may include events or visits, offering education such as drug or sexual health, or creating opportunities for learning skills such as music, arts or sports. Some individuals may require very specific support including being referred and accompanied to other agencies. For Outreach work, this is the time to give information about what is on offer, when it is on offer and how it can be accessed.

·Record contacts.

·Recording work done, action taken.

Changing things from lessons learned.

Measuring and reporting learning outcomes. Recording changes in young people and changes in other people’s perceptions of young people in the locality

Finishing the project

How will this ‘finishing’ be managed to ensure young people still feel they have youth workers to contact?

What have been the changes for young people?

How have they benefited?

Has the community changed in how it sees young people, how it sees itself?

What recommendations are there for future work with young people in the area?

To whom will the final report be made (see people and agencies in Stage 2)?

Are there recommendations for how future detached and outreach youth work is delivered?

STREET YOUTH WORKER STANDARDS, ETHICAL NORMS AND RELATED LEGISLATION WHEN PERFORMING STREET YOUTH WORK

Ethical norms

Youth workers have to follow principles of youth work implementation, principles of professionalism and ethics. Here is a short list of main principles that define activities of youth worker:

Understanding

Youth worker perceives the young person as a developing personality. Youth worker is interested and able to understand experiences of young people, understands the environment surrounding the young person and uses it to carry out activities for the benefit of the young person.

Respect

Youth worker understands and respects the young person and the young person's decisions, which do not harm the young person and others.

Role model - youth worker understands that he influences a young person with his actions and example, therefore he behaves accordingly, taking into account the needs and maturity of the young person.

Confidentiality and justice

Youth worker when performing their functions, they follow the principle of confidentiality, if this does not conflict with laws and other legal acts of the country.

Professionalism

Youth worker clearly defines his role in working with young people, maintains a respectful and constructive relationship with young people, colleagues and other persons in the young person's environment.

Safety

Youth worker while performing his tasks assure creation of safe environment to participate, learn and be for young people. The safe space includes physical and mental safety. The team of youth workers set up clear agreements of safety procedure in the team to assure physical safety of themselves. Moreover, supervision, case analysis is used to assure emotional and mental health of youth workers, and minimize the risk of burnout.

Cross-sectoral cooperation

In the team of youth workers one of the members devotes at least 20 % of his work time for cross-sectoral cooperation working with institutions and organization in the same territory who work with youth in different thematic or public policy fields. Also the youth workers should work with the environment of young people: family, friends and others.

Legal requirements for youth workers and legal framework

Different countries in Europe have different way how professional frameworks are organized and implemented. In some countries youth work is formalized and an academic discipline, in other countries like Lithuania youth worker is a qualification where people with different educational background can enter the field. What helps to implement street youth work:

youth worker is recognized as a profession or qualification, and other professional recognize them and know the field of their work.

youth workers are paid for the work they do with young people, it can be project based payment, municipalities can buy social services from NGOs, the youth workers can be employed by municipality. youth workers are consulted and contributing to youth work, youth policy developments at local, regional and national levels. youth workers receive qualification training courses or youth worker formal education exists in the country. legal professional standards that define the functions, ethics of youth workers. Street youth work service provision description and quality requirements should exist, this document would be an agreement between service providers and the ones setting up the framework and requirements.

funding schemes for different forms of youth work services, youth work innovations should exist.

The team of youth workers

When employing youth workers, you should think what competencies the professional should have. Here is a list of some social and professional competencies necessary for street workers:

being since and open to yourself and others. strong communication skills. ability to say no. Understanding your professional and personal boundaries. ability to work in a team. knowing how to be and act in uncertain situations. observational skills and the ability to understand what is happening around. being sensitive and respectful of differences, culture, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, etc. i.e. ability to appropriately and respectfully question (challenge) people's negative behaviour. reflectivity and criticality in evaluating one's work. consistency: follow the principles you declare - do what you think and vice versa. good conflict management skills. sense of humour.

PREPARATION FOR STREET YOUTH WORK

In Lithuania the street youth work implementation states are defined by the formal description of the service provision, this procedure is legally described by the order of Minister of Social Security and Labour of Republic of Lithuania in 2019. This chapter is prepared based on the minister order and manual “Learning from the street: practical guide of street youth work” (Lithuania 2015).

The 7 stages are: gathering the team of youth workers and creating the plan for street youth work implementations; theoretical and practical analysis of the environment of young people; analysis of the situation of young people; introduction of youth workers and creation of identity; stage of relationship development with young people; phase of support and intervention; finalization of relationship stage.

The quality standards in Lithuania require that street youth work activities would be implemented by a team of 2 youth workers, that have formal education in the field of social work. Finding a competent team of 2 workers is the first stage. The organization together with the team of youth workers have to prepare a realistic plan, defining the territory where the services will be provided and setting up achievable goals. When planning it is very important not to have expectations to have fast results.

The steps described below are arranged according to the principle of consistency but can be rearranged based on the set aims and local reality. The time and energy spent at the beginning of the process helps to ensure the successful further work of the street workers, that later directly leads to the provision of better quality services. Moreover, it is also important to mention that after passing these stages, you should constantly return to them in order to develop and update your work practice.

GATHERING THE TEAM OF YOUTH WORKERS AND CREATING THE PLAN FOR STREET YOUTH WORK IMPLEMENTATION

AND

OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

This is the stage of working on the street when everything starts with familiarization with the territory where the team of youth workers will work. There should be no rush to physically go out into the street. At the beginning of the work, it is very important to pay enough attention to familiarizing yourself with the history, social, economic, and cultural context of the specific territory where you plan to work. Later, such exploration of the environment should become more practical as youth workers become personally acquainted with the people who live and work in the area. The purpose of this stage is to collect as much knowledge as possible about the social problems existing in that place and their causes, the already functioning social institutions and existing programs, activities.

Tips for analysis of the environment:

a) At this stage it is valuable to start creating a map of the area where the street work will be carried out. On the large-format printed map, you can use pins to mark various operating institutions: schools, police stations, kindergartens, shopping centres, town hall, community facilities, hospital and etc.

b) It is recommended to collect contacts of all institutions and organizations operating in a specific area.

c) It is important to personally get to know and inform specialists from different departments and sectors about the work the youth workers will carry out, such as police, social workers, local administration representatives, school social pedagogues, etc. i.e.

3.ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE

If the previously described stage does not require the physical presence of workers on the street, then at this stage they must start visiting places where young people gather by performing the so-called zoning. This requires direct observation, but no major intervention is necessary.

During this period, employees should familiarize themselves very well with the atmosphere of the neighbourhood, the prevailing culture, distinguish between different groups of youngsters, find out what are the prevailing ways of communicating and being on the street. It is worth noting various places where young people gather or otherwise attract attention, because all this can later be the basis for further work. When performing zoning, intensity and regularity should be ensured, which would help people remember the faces of street workers, and workers in a unfamiliar territory would start to feel at home.

Practical tips for investigating the situation of young people:

When conducting an analysis of the situation of young people, you can continue working with the map, mark places were young people meet, dangerous zones and etc. After the start of zoning, street workers should visit the street on different days of the week and at different hours. The same neighbourhood can be very different on Monday afternoon and Friday night. It's worth going out on the weekends as well.

At this stage, it is useful to get to know those who see young people on a daily basis or otherwise come into contact with them. For example, you can talk to the cashier of the store, the seller of the kebab shop or the security guards of the supermarket about how they manage to communicate with the young people who visit there, when they are the most, what they usually do there.

-

4. PRESENTATION AND IDENTITY CREATION STAGE.

After the workers are already well acquainted and familiar with the area they work in, they should start contacting the young people they meet on the street. The aim of this stage is to get to know as many young people as possible, despite the fact that some of them may not be the target group of the ongoing work. Usually, at this stage, employees go up to people, say hello, and introduce themselves, who they are and what they do. This period is an opportunity for workers to start building their roles on the street. Creating an identity is like a kind of negotiation with young people when you try to understand and harmonize expectations for each other.

Practical tips for introducing yourself and creating an identity:

When going out on the street, employees should take an employee card that confirms their identity, the institution where they work and their position. It is important to adopt team agreements in advance and stick to them by communicating what your goals are for working on the street. In order to present your work, it is a good idea to have leaflets with you, where the work being carried out, the services provided or the organized activities are described in a language understandable to young people. From the first contact, you should inform young people about your working hours and when you plan to return to them next time.

5. STAGE OF STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP

The relationship-building process from the first contact to the development of relationship based on trust takes time. It takes time for a person to stop suspecting an employee and start to be with him as he is and share honest thoughts.

When a street worker has been working for some time and is well known among local young people, it is easier to build strong relationships. However, in more common cases, the employee has to wait for a certain sign from the environment before he can cross the threshold of a relationship based on trust.

Practical tips for strengthening relationships

Staff should be constantly interested in what worries young people or makes them very happy. Genuine interest encourages people to be more open. Talking about possible activities together helps young people understand the role of workers, and it is another chance for workers to understand them better.

If necessary, it is possible to share the available knowledge on issues relevant to young people or otherwise help in situations arising here and now. Concrete support is the best way to show your readiness to respond to the different needs of young people.

It is important to be able to do nothing if young people do not want to do anything at that moment. Often this is not an easy task for the staff, but it is the only way to show that they try not only to listen but also to hear young people. During the relationship strengthening phase, youth workers should devote sufficient time to joint activities. Playing their games with young people is a great opportunity to get to know each other better.

Conflicts and their resolution are a particularly significant part of the process of strengthening relationships. Street workers should not avoid conflict situations that arise, but, on the contrary, take steps to solve them.

6. SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION PHASE

At this stage, spaces are created for targeted actions with groups of young people, ideas for specific activities are generated and they are implemented or intensive individual work takes place.

Such activities can gradually involve larger groups of people or even the whole community, promoting dialogue between young people and local community actors (local authorities, entrepreneurs, neighbours, etc.). If the previously described stages are more or less the same, no matter which street work concept is used, then in the support and intervention stage, street workers usually choose those methods of operation that directly contribute to the set work goals.

Practical advice for action

A strong relationship can provide practical support in relation to the expressed needs of young people. This may include providing appropriate information, directing and accompanying other institutions, establishing and maintaining contact with other institutions on behalf of the young person, and physical action: for example, taking them to a doctor or to a hostel.

Street workers can encourage the informal education of young people by engaging in voluntary activities, participating in different projects, or in the activities of youth organizations. Employees can initiate educational conversations through other activities or tools. Let's say conversations about health and relationships while handing out condoms.

7. COMPLETION STAGE OF THE PROCESS.

There is no doubt that the relationship established by street workers with individual people or groups of young people is very important to them. In order to avoid another social turning point in their lives, which is not uncommon in the daily life of people with whom street workers work, it is necessary to take time to complete and evaluate the work process. Under favourable circumstances, at this stage, there is an opportunity to introduce new employees by introducing them to the young people they already know. In this way, when at least part of the accumulated trust is transferred to a new employee, continuity of work is ensured. If necessary, this process can take even several months.

Practical tips for completing the street work process

Often this stage is quite a challenge not only for young people but also for workers. It is very important that at this stage employees receive adequate support and have enough space to reflect on their work.

At this stage, you should not forget to evaluate yourself and share the results of your work with others. Involving young people in the evaluation of the results achieved greatly enriches this work.

As mentioned at the beginning, these seven stages are not static and linear processes. Each stage is essential in its own way and helps youth workers maintain a professional posture.

The fundamental idea behind this process is the street workers' aspiration to become fully recognized. This is needed so that workers can help the most marginalized young people. In the long run, these stages form a process, circle that employees must constantly walk through: discover new meeting places, meet new people, understand the new beginning and everchanging dynamics of relationships, choose the most appropriate ways of acting and evaluate the results achieved. It is also important to mention that, even with great efforts to do consistent work, no one can guarantee that street workers will have full knowledge of specific cases, young people's groups or the local community when deciding to act.

People

RELATIONSHIPS WITH

When delivering any type of youth work services, one should be aware that the success of the activity is based on the partnership that is being built with the local partners. Especially in using street work methodologies as part of detached youth work practices, being aware of who is part of the safety nets of young people is essential both to youth workers and to the organisations. Consequently, before starting up the delivery of the services, the organisations should proceed to a serious documentation process, the stakeholders mapping process being of a great importance.

People and institutions can be the partners of delivering the street youth services because during the activities young people should feel safe and secure. Also, during the services, young people might also ask the youth worker to support them in identifying additional resources/support mechanisms in order to find training activities that would fit their needs and interest, to support them in accessing medical services that are much needed, in finding job opportunities or in reaching out to groups of young people dealing with the same issues or specialists that could help them going through tumultuous episodes of their lives.

This is why the youth worker should be very much aware of the existent services and institutions in the area as well as of the much needed and non-existent onesespecially for the rural communities and/or for the isolated areas, there is the case that young people would need specialised services buy they would not be able to find them in their living areas.

In this case, the youth workers should be aware not only about the location of these services but also of the mechanisms that need to be put in place to support young people in reaching those services (e.i. money for transportation, equipment and infrastructure, etc.)

Not only the success of the project based on detached and street work methodology is guaranteed through having a well developed stakeholders’ map, but it also ensures the quality of the services provided and the fact that the activities would be tailored and attractive to young people.

CONTACT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRST CONTACT

Initiating contact

When making initial contact with young people, trust your professional empathy and communication skills. Approach them confidently and with open body language. Address the group as a whole in the first instance, so that no one young person feels.

Extract from: http://www.youth association.org/downloads/TheYouthAssociation DetachedYouthWorkPolicy.pdf

This involves the first approach to a group of young people, early conversations and the first stages of establishing relationships.

‘’…contact making is likely to be a gradual process It may begin with observation, which develops into eye contact, then to a nod which after a number of greetings becomes a conversation All that happens up until that conversation is just as important as the conversation itself This low-key approach can often mean that it is a young person who makes the approach rather than the worker ’’ (Allan Rogers Starting Out in detached Work, NAYC Publications)

We need to be mindful, however, of the timescales set in our delivery plan; sometimes we will need to instigate contact if groups are slow to respond to our presence. At this stage workers will need to consider the following: oTheir own feelings, fears and anxieties Detached work takes place on young people’s own ground and therefore often takes place without the ‘’props’’ that other kinds of youth workers use. This may leave workers feeling vulnerable when contacting a group for the first time. It will help workers to plan how they are going to approach a group and what they are going to say.

oWorkers should be prepared to say who they are and what they are doing, (‘we’re youth workers who work away from youth centres’) and also be prepared to discuss what they can and cannot offer.

The potential for young people to feel anxious or distrusting Workers should remember that young people probably feel more vulnerable than them. Usually, when young people are approached by adults, they don’t know whether or not it is for negative reasons (being told to move on, being told to keep the noise down etc). Consequently, workers should be prepared for situations where they are not automatically welcomed by a group.

What to take on to the streets

There are a number of items which workers can carry with them which not only ‘break the ice’ but also help to show what youth workers can offer to young people. These might include flasks of hot drinks, leaflets, games, etc.

Who it is appropriate to work with

Although the reconnaissance should have identified potential target groups, workers will need to review the situation even at this early stage. It may not always be appropriate for the first group of young people that is contacted to become part of a longer term strategy. It is also important for a target group to be allowed to reject outright approaches by detached workers and staff will need to be sensitive to their wishes. Workers will also need to be aware of working within boundaries in terms of the age of young people and whether they are part of agreed target groups. Other considerations might include whether the young people in the group are all of the same gender, or the activities that the group are involved in, for example, alcohol/drug misuse etc.

Use of identity cards

Workers should carry identity cards which they can produce when working directly with young people or when in contact with other professionals or members of the public. In addition, workers should carry with them the phone number of their line manager, so that at a later point people can check the worker’s validity if they wish. Introducing ourselves

At the first meeting with a new group, our detached workers should try to:

Give their names Say they work for the Association Say they are detached youth workers Show their identification Describe what detached work is State their commitment to young people

Be open to any questions Introduce the idea of boundaries and confidentiality

Detached youth workers need to utilise a range of skills to deliver the work and communicate with young people in a meaningful and imaginative way. In this they are no different from any other youth workers.

The major differences between detached workers and other workers focus on:

• the setting for the work – young people’s own ground.

• resources detached workers cannot draw on the same range of resources as other workers.

• time taken to establish and develop relationships – the nature of detached work may mean it takes longer for workers to establish relationships with young people. This can be counteracted by working with the group more intensively and frequently than is usual in centre based work. Detached workers need to be aware of the unpredictable environment in which that may work and the distractions this can cause, for example, working outside a pub where a fight may break out.

The main aim of the work will always be to encourage groups of young people to take control of their own work. Working boundaries Maintaining professional boundaries with young people is vitally important. No worker should be asked to work in their own neighbourhood or with a group that includes a relative or family friend.

The major differences between detached workers and other workers focus on:

• the setting for the work – young people’s own ground.

• resources detached workers cannot draw on the same range of resources as other workers.

• time taken to establish and develop relationships – the nature of detached work may mean it takes longer for workers to establish relationships with young people. This can be counteracted by working with the group more intensively and frequently than is usual in centre based work. Detached workers need to be aware of the unpredictable environment in which that may work and the distractions this can cause, for example, working outside a pub where a fight may break out.

The main aim of the work will always be to encourage groups of young people to take control of their own work. Working boundaries Maintaining professional boundaries with young people is vitally important. No worker should be asked to work in their own neighbourhood or with a group that includes a relative or family friend.

Workers will never disclose their personal address or phone number to young people; they will always offer a work number. Detached workers need to balance the need to be open, honest and transparent with young people and to draw on their own experiences to develop group work (what we call being ‘genuine’), with the need to avoid risky personal disclosure.

There is a key difference between being friendly and being a friend

Detached youth work is a profession both in the sense of its rules of conduct and the fact that it is a paid job. Project work Project work is a necessary part of all long term work with groups of young people. Detached workers should always be looking to generate opportunities for developing project work with groups. Other than the very early stages of a relationship with a new group, just chatting and ‘being there’ is not enough.

The need to involve young people in the active participation in designing and organizing the project is never a reason to neglect planning and preparation.

Detached workers need to be more prepared and spend more time planning project work than their building-based colleagues, because of the length of time it can take to complete some tasks with some groups in a street environment.

Information, advice and guidance

Good youth workers have always provided the kinds of services that some Connexions staff mistakenly think they invented. It is part and parcel of being a young person centred and being professional. It is our duty to stay well informed and to be able to provide basic information on a range of issues that routinely matter to young people. Where more support is needed, detached workers should be able and prepared to introduce young people to other specialists and service providers who can meet their needs, in the same way that a generalist Personal Adviser would. Street Youth worker standards; Ethical norms and related legislation when performing street youth work

RISK IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT

A risk assessment is very crucial when it comes to the health and safety process of outreach youth work. During the outreach youth work process, we must think about everyone who is involved and who is responsible for the safety of the youth group and youth workers who will be carrying out the street youth work. In order to assess the risk of outreach youth work activities and to make plans of actions that we can do to reduce or eliminate the risk of the outreach youth work activities, we have to conduct and write a risk assessment.

4. Recording of the risk assessment results – a written risk assessment document, prepared for the specific type of outreach youth work activities, and it contains information about identified hazards, control measures, identification and associated controls.

5. Review of the risk assessment on the regular basis.

Identification of hazards

If you are wondering from where to start when identifying the list of threats, we suggest to start with the environment where outreach youth work activities are going to be implemented. It is the specific territory, where you are planning to implement the outreach youth work. You have to have all information about the activity and location. More likely it means that you have to see the location, do some preliminary site research.

If it is not possible, then try to search of photos, maps and information about the location available on internet. Do not forget to ask to your colleagues, partners and others who may know some inside information about the surroundings. The nature of a street-based work means that workers will approach young people in their area and they do not know the area, and it is most likely uncontrolled environment. Engagement with groups on the streets and individuals must be done as safely as possible, therefore, identification of hazards is where you must start.

Here are a few guiding questions that may help to think about some general threats:

Do all staff members who will implement outreach youth work activities have appropriate and protective equipment? For example, first aid kit?

Does everyone have their mobile phone? How many hours can it work without charging?

Have all outreach youth work routes been checked for any threats?

Do the outreach youth workers know escape routes in that particular area?

Does anyone other outside the team have been informed about the outreach youth work activities, the area and has a copy of the route?

Have you checked the street lighting in the particular area during your working hours?

What are the weather conditions for the working time and this particular area?

What kind of outdoor clothes, footwear and other equipment does the team of outreach youth workers need

If the area is outside the city, what kind of roads leads there? What you must consider when choosing appropriate vehicle?

Where are the nearest public toilet facilities? Are they within walking distance?

Is there an access to a leisure centre or shop? How public is the space you will enter?

Is this area somehow specifically a “dangerous” area? Are there any current issues connected with this area?

Previous accidents or reports?

If there would be such a need for help, how close is the nearest police station or first aid medical facility?

Have you informed the local police about your outreach activities in this area?

What are the characteristics of the youth group that you will approach?

What is the size, age and composition of the group? Are they loud and aggressive, introverted, surrounded by other adults?

Any information about use of intoxicating and addictive substances in the youth group members?

When the outreach youth workers have discussed possible situations and have answers to the basic questions, it is time to make a list of hazards. It is a suggestion to focus on those hazards that have realistic potential to cause harm to people.

Identification of the target group In order to identify the target group, you just have to answer to one question - who might be harmed? Most probably your answers will include staff and team members, volunteers, young people with whom you will engage, other people around (citizens, neighbours etc.). Then it is easy to use your created list of hazards and add the specific target group or several target groups for each hazard.

Identification of the risk probability and the degree of harm it would cause To evaluate the level of risks, the potential of hazards has to be analysed, evaluating the extent of the consequences and the negative impact on the target group, as well as - the probability of occurrence.

It is possible to use quantitative or qualitative approach to evaluate the level of risk. Qualitative approach would be giving a numerical value for the risk assessments and can require more expertise to judge the risk accurately. In this publication we will describe the qualitative approach to assess levels of risk which is more understandable for outreach youth workers who are responsible for the risk assessment. The incorrect risk analysis could result in a failure to implement the necessary control measures or the unnecessary measures that can affect on the activity.

Risk assessment template (example)

Assessment carried out by:

Name of the activity: Date assessment was carried out:

DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION OF STREET YOUTH WORK

In order to evaluate street youth work, it is crucial to understand what exactly you want to evaluate? What is the desired results of the street youth work? What kind of information do you need to understand the impact? Those questions are very closely connected to the process of monitoring and evaluation. For the evaluation you need data, but for collection of data, you have to know what you are monitoring? So it is crucial to know the aim of a street work and objectives of the work that you are doing. If you have set the aim for street youth work, you can identify the milestones and indicators, what you will monitor during the process and what do you need to evaluate. Monitoring will help you to stick to the timeline, to the planned activities and milestones as you have planned. And monitoring will highlight any irregularities, that shows if you need to change something in order to improve the progress.

Identification of the risk probability and the degree of harm it would cause To evaluate the level of risks, the potential of hazards has to be analysed, evaluating

What is the goal of the street youth work?

What are the objectives?

What will be the milestones that could reflect the results? What kind of information do you need to collect for the evaluation?

How and when you will track the extent to which the expected results have been achieved?

How you will compile and save the information and results of evaluation?

Who will be responsible for monitoring and evaluation?

What you will do with the evaluation results?

In the context of street youth work there is an option to measure the following aspects:

The impact on young people who are directly involved in the activities; The impact on the local community in general.

The impact on decision makers and various stakeholders - business, schools, cultural centers, other NGOs; The impact on youth workers carrying out the activities.

Evaluation process involves collecting of all the monitoring information which has been recorded and knowledge learned during street worker’s work. Without the monitoring data you cannot make an informed judgement and evaluate the result based on collected information about the work’s value and outcomes measured against aims and objectives.

Monitoring Form (Example)

The following example can adjust accordingly to your objectives and the target group of street youth work.

At the end of the street youth work session, check that all the necessary recordings and monitoring procedures has been completed. During the evaluation process, make sure that all street youth work team members have had a chance to discuss their views and feelings about the session and it is recorded. According to the monitoring results, check if any necessary emergency procedures have to been done.

References:

1.Belfast Education and Library Board Youth Service (2012) Outreach and Detached Youth Work Guidelines

2 Belton, B (ed) (2014) Global Perspectives on Youth Work, Sense Publishers

3.Călăfăteanu, A., Lonean, I (2015) Toolkit for detached youth work services, https://www.cdcd.ro/wp content/uploads/2015/08/ghid pilotare servicii detached youth work CDCD pdf

4 European Youth Work Convention 2015, The Declaration http://www.eywc2015.eu/the declaration

5.Federation for detached youth work, 2015 http://www.detachedyouthwork.info/ 6 Elektrėnų kultūros centras, Politikos tyrimų ir analizės institutas, Medvirkningsagentene, Creative minds for culture, Asociatia Centrul Pentru Dezvoltare Comunitara Durabila and Partners, Manual “European Practices On Mobile Youth Work And Practical Guidelines”, https://issuu.com/creativemindsinlatvia/docs/manual european practices on mobi le youth work an

7 Laureckis K , at all, (2015) A practical guide on street youth work "Learning from the street".

8. "Legal Street youth work activity framework" Ministry of Social Security and Labour of Republic of Lithiuania https://e seimas lrs lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/5f2cdd62f04b11e993e1a0efdbde7def? jfwid=i3h7wrv0v

9.NYA National Youth Agency, FDYW Federation for Detached Youth Work, Detached Youth Work Guidance, June 15th, 2020 https://www nya org uk/resource/detached youth work guidance/

10.Rogers, V. (2011) 101 Things to Do on the Street: Games and Resources for Detached, Outreach and Street Based Youth Work 2nd Edition Jessica Kingsley Pub; 2 edition (February 1, 2011)

11 Smith, M K (1996, 2005) ‘Detached, street based and project work with young people’ in the encyclopaedia of informal education [http://infed.org/mobi/detachedstreet based and project work with young people

12. Tara Morris, Vale of Glamorgan Youth Service Rocio Cifuentes, Ethnic Youth Support Team, Swansea Hayley Wood, Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services, Detached And Outreach Youth Work Method And Resource Handbook For Youth Work Practitioners In Wales; https://www.cwvys.org.uk/wp content/uploads/2014/06/HB Detached and Outreach Youth Work.pdf

13 Tiffany, G (2008) Learning from detached youth work: democratic education published by the Nuffield Review of 14 19 education

INTRODUCTORY GUIDE TO OUTREACH YOUTH WORK PRACTICES IN RURAL AREAS

THE PROJECT "PROMOTION OF YOUTH SERVICES AND OUTREACH YOUTH WORK" WAS IMPLEMENTED WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION PROGRAM "ERASMUS+: YOUTH IN ACTION", WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH IN THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA. THIS PUBLICATION REFLECTS SOLELY THE VIEWS OF THE AUTHORS, AND THE COMMISSION CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY POSSIBLE USE OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN.