While policy documents produced by central and local government focused heavily on targets and outputs, youth work organisations saw success in terms of less easily measured \u201csoft skills\u201d like kindness, caring and relationship building.<\/p>\n
The researchers believe this difference in focus has led to some core youth work being underfunded and may have hampered attempts to help people out of poverty and boost social inclusion.<\/p>\n
They called for young people\u2019s stories and experiences to be incorporated into policy-making alongside statistics and targets, concluding: \u201cPutting the young person at the centre of policy design, not just in intent but in person, will make young people the agents not the objects in policy\u201d.<\/p>\n
They added: \u201cYouth workers and youth work organisations need recognition, in professional and in financial terms, of the capacity developing and support work that they do.\u00a0 It will be important to revisit the policy of funders in awarding grants to recognise youth workers\u2019 insights into \u2018what works\u2019 and to adequately fund this work.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research, funded by the RSA (Scotland) Venture Fund, was carried out by Professor Brian Howieson of Edinburgh\u00a0Napier\u2019s Business School and Dr Juliette Summers of St Andrews\u2019 School of Management.<\/p>\n
They analysed in detail Scottish Government and City of Glasgow Council online policy documents, while also interviewing eight workers with three Glasgow youth work organisations.<\/p>\n
In the first case, managerial jargon such as \u201cquality improvement processes\u201d, \u201cthe bottom line\u201d, \u201caudit activity\u201d and \u201cdetails of stock and flow\u201d was common. By contrast, the youth workers spoke about the need to build young people\u2019s confidence and self-esteem.<\/p>\n
The researchers said: \u201cAt present, there is limited voice for young people in the policy documents and limited opportunities to set their own criteria for success. There is an over-arching \u2018top down\u2019 approach in policy\u2026 most often this excluded young people\u2019s direct voice or participation.\u201d<\/p>\n
They added: \u201cA remedy would be to include young people\u2019s stories as relevant data in policy design and outcomes \u2013 not just statistics, measurements and targets. There is a need for a new design and way of thinking that taps into young people\u2019s experiences, stories and humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Juliette Summers said: \u201cOur research has highlighted the vital but underfunded work done by youth work organisations in helping young people develop essential inclusivity skills. Given the persistence of youth social exclusion in Scotland and the Scottish Government\u2019s emphasis on inclusive growth, now is the time to take a fresh look at policy assumptions and start a new national conversation about inclusivity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Howieson added:\u00a0 \u201cYouth and Social Exclusion is not a tame problem that can be managed into non-existence.\u00a0 Let\u2019s reframe this problem as a wicked problem and re-think the leadership required to solve this complex and complicated problem.\u00a0 It will be very important that, in reconceiving leadership, all voices are heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jamie Cooke, Head of RSA Scotland said: \u201cWe are delighted that we were able to support this important piece of work.\u00a0 We believe strongly in the importance of giving young people agency and voice in shaping the support provided for them, and hope that this report will help to take that debate forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cCo-created and collaborative policy offers a greater opportunity for sustained impact, and we hope that policy makers will take the recommendations and findings of the report on board.\u201d<\/p>\n
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