Participation and Beyond A collaborative research project investigating examples of participative and empowering youth work
Participation and Beyond is an action research project, investigating examples of youth work where young people are enabled to participate in a meaningful way and make decisions that affect their lives. The research employs a participatory action approach, developing in partnership with young people a method of enabling them, and those who work with them, to measure the extent and significance of their participation and provide evidence of their empowerment. The research is founded on the premise that young people’s participation in decision-making processes is widely viewed as very desirable, but that it is difficult to evaluate effectively and therefore remains elusive. The literature review reveals participation and empowerment to be consistent themes in the development of policy and practice in work with young people. However, the various models currently used to evaluate the extent of young people’s participation and empowerment are in the main more helpful as identification methods for existing structures, rather than as tools that can be used to extend young people’s influence and thereby further empower them. A four-stage, qualitative research approach was adopted, employing a range of research methods, including: a postal survey; observation, interviews and document review as part of a multiple case study strategy; focus group discussions; and field testing work. As part of a highly ethical process, the research directly engaged with over 90 young people involved with nine participative youth projects throughout England. Through discussion and analysis with young people several key issues emerge. Transparency is identified as the critical component of participative youth work. The significance of empowerment through personal development in participative work with young people is also highlighted. The usefulness of the term ‘youth led’ in participative youth work is contested with preference given to the concept of youth partnership. The outcomes of the research include the identification of a model of participative action research with young people that provides an exemplar for future practice. In addition, the research has enabled the development of an inclusive technique for auditing, locating and evaluating decision-making power within participative youth work provision. The dissemination of the findings will help to encourage an honest dialogue about power and decision-making between young people and those who work with them in a range of participative youth work settings. It is the intention that Participation and Beyond will contribute to securing improvements in youth work policy and practice, that will result in even greater numbers of young people accomplishing more of the kind of extraordinary achievements witnessed in this research.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations