Resources

Library

Reading that backs the practice.

Hand-picked articles, guides and toolkits from NYA, infed, IYW and others — organised by cornerstone.

Guide

The Cornerstones of Effective Youth Work

National Youth Agency

The defining set of principles that underpin youth work practice in the UK.

Educative
Empowering
Participative
Inclusive
Expressive
Guide

Ethical Conduct in Youth Work

NYA

Statement of values and principles from the NYA.

Empowering
Inclusive
Article

What is informal education?

infed.org

Foundational piece on conversation-driven, learner-led education.

Educative
Participative
Article

Empowerment, participation and youth work

infed.org

How power, voice and action sit at the heart of practice.

Empowering
Participative
Guide

Detached & outreach youth work

Institute for Youth Work

Reaching young people on their terms, in their spaces.

Inclusive
Participative
Toolkit

Creative methods in youth work

UK Youth

Arts, play and digital approaches to expressive practice.

Expressive
Educative
Research

Anti-racist youth work

YMCA George Williams College

Naming and challenging racism in practice and structure.

Inclusive
Empowering
Toolkit

Co-production with young people

Participation Works

Designing services with, not for, young people.

Participative
Empowering
Article

Reflective practice for youth workers

infed.org

Models and habits for turning experience into learning.

Educative
Guide

Youth voice & influence

British Youth Council

Structures that take young people's voice seriously.

Participative
Expressive
Guide

Trauma-informed youth work

YoungMinds

Practice that holds safety, trust and choice at its centre.

Inclusive
Empowering
Article

Why play matters

Play England

The case for play across the life of a young person.

Expressive