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Youth worker

Youth workers are responsible for planning, organising and overseeing community programmes designed to redress inequalities and facilitate the personal, social and emotional development of young people between the ages of 11-25.

Approximately 1.25 million 11-25 year-olds make use of local authority Youth Services provision each year in England

Youth worker job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Responsibilities of the job typically comprise:

managing projects
planning and organising appropriate youth and community programmes
establishing new youth services
recruiting, training and supervising volunteers and paid employees
undertaking detached ‘outreach' youth work
producing reports and business plans
giving presentations
promoting young people's interests
maintaining records
managing and administering budgets and resources
preparing and distributing publicity materials and displays
liaising and working with parents, schools, the police and other community groups/organisations
providing advocacy and counselling
raising funds.

Hours are fairly typical, but as a key support worker you may be required to be on hand in the case of an emergency. Salaries can be anywhere from £10,000 right up to £50,000.

Typical employers of youth workers

local education authorities (LEAs)
local government
health and housing departments
independent, voluntary and charitable organisations.

A large proportion of youth workers are volunteers; many are just employed to work on a part-time basis, only a few work full-time. Vacancies are advertised via the internet; in newspapers; local authority jobs lists and publications including The Big Issue, Community Care, The Times Educational Supplement, the New Statesman and The Scotsman.

Qualifications and training required

Candidates either need a degree in youth and community work, or a diploma in youth work. It is crucial to possess relevant paid or voluntary work experience - a minimum of one year's experience is usually required prior to entry into training. This can be gained by involvement in student community schemes, pressure groups or community projects.

Placements may also be available from local charities and volunteer bureaux. Although employers generally consider personality and experience to be more important than degree subject studied, qualifications in social work, sociology, education, community arts, or life/social sciences etc can be helpful.