Youth work
Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) represents employers, stakeholders and staff working in youth work, the key purpose of which is to enable young people to develop completely, working with them to facilitate their personal, social and educational development, to enable them to develop their voice, influence and place in society and to reach their full potential.
This statement refers to the holistic development of young people, recognising that personal, social and educational development can also include, for example, physical, political and spiritual development.
Working with representatives of the sectors within youth work, LLUK has agreed a suite of values, which distinguish youth work from other, sometimes related activities involving young people. These values are at the core of the work undertaken within youth work and underpin the Professional and National Occupational Standards for youth work, which have been developed and published by LLUK. Information about consultations on the standards is included in the archived community development and youth work section.
It is also recognised that these values need to be placed within the local, social and political context within which youth work activities are undertaken, and of which youth workers will need to be aware. These values also illustrate how youth work is involved in the holistic development of young people.
