The Centre for Youth Work Studies
The Centre for Youth Work Studies, co-directed by Annette Coburn and Brian McGinley undertakes research in youth work and promotes practice development, particularly in educational youth work, anti-discriminatory practice, youth literacies, informal education, youth participation and empowerment, and young people and public policy. Through its Youth Work Solutions programme it undertakes evaluations of local and national youth work provision, provides consultancy advice, capacity building and training input to community based youth work organisations. The Centre has organised national and international conferences on Curriculum Development in Community Education, Social Exclusion and Young People, and Young People and Informal Education.
The Scottish Youth issues Journal is published through the auspices of the centre.
Recent research activity by the centre includes:
- Evaluation of the South Lanarkshire Community Safety Partnership;
- Consultation with young people in the East End of Glasgow regarding service provision and needs;
- Consultation with young people and local organisations, including a training needs analysis, with Support to Youth in Lanark (STYL);
- A research study in to youth and literacy for Learning Connections (Communities Scotland);
- Capacity Building youth work training in partnership with Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance;
- Consultation and research investigation into the needs and experiences of young people in four Scottish regions who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or transgendered in partnership with LGBT Youth (Scotland);
- Consultation exercise on the South Lanarkshire Community Safety Partnership Best Value Review;
- Evaluation of the Caley youth Centre for North Ayrshire Council.
Staff associated with the centre are also involved in writing a range of articles on themes which include Youth Diversion, Peer Education, Territoriality, Youth Literacies and Rescued Youth.