Key Historical Developments Of Youth Work

In this report I aim to explore the key historical developments of youth work, this essay one will give a definition of what youth work is and explain about it, also go through the key historical developments of youth work and how it has influenced current youth work practice. The report will also explain the purpose of youth work in our society and how it’s progressed through time from its initiation to present day.

Youth work is aimed at providing and creating a safe and fun environment for children and young people to have opportunities to learn new skills and aid the construction of social and personal development. There is no single definition on the purpose of youth work; however an agreed definition in the sector is;

“Engaging with

In 1780 Hannah Moore alongside Robert Raikes and her sister were pioneers for the first youth clubs, these clubs had first began as Sunday schools but the realisation that these could be developed into fun for the children and young people, Moore used her wider literacy competency to aid making the youth clubs more enjoyable for the young people to learn also organised days where the young peoples families could also come along and enjoy them.

In 1818 John Pounds and Thomas Guthrie set up ‘ragged schools’ as they felt Sunday schools were not accessible to inner city or areas of high deprivation for in young people. Pounds and Guthrie set it up the ragged schools in order to help the young people in high deprivation areas access the facilities which would in time help them develop personal and social skills and improving life skills.

In 1844 George Williams and a group of men set up the young men’s Christian association (YMCA). This was to occupy children that were on the streets to try and stop those young men turning to crime and giving them the opportunity to

This was aimed at adolescents and aimed to provide a variety of activities for the young people. The boys brigade was also created to keep the children off the streets and out of trouble. The children wanted to learn so they were giving the platform to do so.

In 1907 Lord Robert Baden-Powell took a group of 22 boys to Brownsea Island as part of an experimental camp and from this camp came the Scouting movement, which has a current membership of approximately 40 million young people. In 1910 the Guides was founded due to the high demand for girls wanting to join the scouts, something that at this stage in history was a male only activity and there was no integration within activities.

In the late 1950’s early 1960’s the term “teenagers” became more focused on because of their behaviours, due to this it raised interests in combating the issue with them with youth work.

In the 1960’s the Albemarie report was written due to the behavioural developments in youths. The report was a major part in the progression of youth work as government funding helped with purpose built buildings providing young people with a safe social environment for youths to do activities and make friends, giving them the resources and the recognition of youth workers, this was the gold age of youth