Norway

Youth information work in Norway is carried out by different organisations and initiatives across the country and is not tied to a specific governmental authority.

While the Ministry of Children and Families develops youth policy, the responsibility of providing youth information services has no coordinating body at a governmental level. Hence, some youth information services in Norway have direct ties to municipal administrations, while others are a result of initiatives from NGOs.

The different youth information services have chosen to self-organise through “Forum för ungdomsinformasjon” (Forum for youth information), which was established in 1997, as a way of networking and finding inspiration and support for each other’s varying activities. The forum has developed its own guidelines and statutes, and it has a national working committee consisting of representatives from three of the youth information offices in Norway. The meetings in this forum are funded through the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir). The Forum has two annual meetings.

Youth information work in Norway forms an integral part of youth work and is carried out in a variety of ways: through open info centre services, youth clubs, cultural activities and more.

All the local and regional youth information services/centres in the network are organised and funded differently; UngInfo Oslo is an independent organisation (NGO), others are municipal services that are financed locally, others are financed regionally.

Aspirations of youth information providers in the country include a national strategy for youth information with a clear state coordination, as well as the establishment of more youth information services to maximise the geographical spread and outreach.

Youth information worker is not recognised as a profession in Norway. However, “youth worker” is. The “youth worker” occupational standards differentiate 3 levels of the profession depending on educational background, work experience and levels of competence. Competences related to youth information work with a reference to the European Youth Information Charter form an integral part of the occupational standard.