WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY....


WHY YOUTH WORK WORKS:


THE SCIENCE BEHIND BELONGING


Comment by REBECCA MAW, CEO at The Key


the sense of belonging that youth work builds. Why it works


The success of youth work is not luck or coincidence. It is rooted in decades of practice and supported by psychology. Self- determination theory, developed by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, shows that people thrive when three needs are met: autonomy, competence and relatedness.


Youth work offers all three. It gives young people a say in what happens. It lets them test ideas and see them through. It surrounds them with people who believe in them. When applied to college settings, these principles can help rebuild motivation, attendance and persistence - the challenges every education and learning provider is facing.


The Key in practice W


hen people think of youth work they often picture after- school clubs or community projects. Yet the same principles that make youth work effective – trust, belonging and ownership – are exactly what schools and colleges need to re-engage learners.


Youth work is not an optional extra or a place for young people to fill time. It is a professional practice that helps young people develop confidence, motivation and a sense of purpose. Those outcomes matter just as much in education as they do in community settings,


I have seen this first-hand. Time and again, I have watched young people go from quiet participants to confident leaders once they are given trust, space and choice. That transformation is what makes youth work and youth-led practice so powerful.


The evidence behind it


Recent research confirms what those of us in the sector already know. Youth work delivers outcomes that formal education alone cannot achieve. A 2024 study from Ulster University found that youth work in or alongside schools improved attendance, relationships and wellbeing. The Binks Hub’s Power of Youth Work study reported long-term gains in confidence and community involvement.


There is an economic case too. Research by UK Youth and Frontier Economics estimated that every pound invested in youth work returns between £3.20 and £6.40 in benefits such as better health, higher employment and reduced crime. These figures are important, but the true value lies in something harder to measure:


28 www.education-today.co.uk


At The Key, young people design and lead their own projects. They choose a passion or issue that matters, plan their approach and make it happen with support from a trusted adult. It could be testing out a new interest, a creative enterprise or a project that helps others. What matters is that it belongs to them. The same approach is now being used successfully in schools, colleges and training settings to build employability skills, resilience and confidence. The qualities that keep learners motivated when challenges arise. Youth workers tell us they see big changes as a result. Confidence rises, attendance improves, and young people begin to see themselves as capable of shaping their futures. Youth work does not replace formal education. It strengthens it by giving young people the confidence and drive to learn.


Why we need it now


With many schools and colleges still seeing lower attendance and learner confidence after the pandemic, youth work principles offer a practical framework for re-engagement.


Funding for youth services has fallen by more than half since 2011, and more than 4,500 youth worker posts have been lost. At the same time, almost one in eight young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training. These numbers underline how vital it is to invest in approaches that keep young people connected to learning and to their communities.} Youth work and education share the same goal: helping young people grow into confident, capable adults. By bringing these approaches together, we can reignite motivation and help learners build skills for life beyond school and college. That is why youth work works, and why its lessons belong in every learning environment.


November 2025


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