Youth Work practice and principles

At Young Gloucestershire, all our work with children, young people, and families is grounded in youth work values and principles. These ensure our practice is ethical, empowering, and evidence-based. Our core principles include:

Active participation and empowerment – supporting young people to make decisions and take control of their lives.

Voluntary engagement – young people choose to participate, ensuring meaningful involvement.

Non-formal education and informal learning – learning happens through experiences and relationships, not just in classrooms.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion – we celebrate differences and ensure fair access to opportunities for all.

Reflective practice – continually learning and improving our work to better meet young people’s needs.

Theories
1. The Model of Empowerment
We support young people along a journey from Level 1, where they access information and opportunities, to Level 7, where they take full control and responsibility for their actions. This approach builds independence rather than reliance on services.

2. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
We recognise that young people’s growth happens in layers: basic needs like food, shelter, and safety must be met first, followed by belonging and self-esteem, ultimately leading to self-actualisation. This guides how we plan support, ensuring we address foundational needs before focusing on long-term goals.

3. Reflective Practice
Reflective practice is vital for improving our work. One key tool we use is Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle, which has six stages:

Description – What happened?
Feelings – What were you thinking and feeling?
Evaluation – What was good or bad about the experience?
Analysis – What sense can you make of the situation?
Conclusion – What else could you have done?
Action Plan – What will you do next time?

By combining youth work principles with practical tools, we ensure that our work is both theory informed and tailored to the real needs of young people, helping them grow, thrive, and achieve their goals.