FROM THE ARCHIVES:
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
1M ago
BUILD THE RALLY! DEFEND YOUTH WORK! FEBRUARY 2011 This post in support of the CHOOSE YOUTH rally in February, 2011 argued, “it is no exaggeration to say that the future of an open and voluntarily negotiated work with young people is under severe threat”. Was it an exaggeration? Thanks to Anti-Cuts Across Wigan for the photo. 1. In the next week all supporters are asked to make every effort to push the significance of the CHOOSE YOUTH Rally on February 12 in Solihull. Please circulate the information around your own networks. We are aware that some workers have reservations abou ..read more
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FROM THE ARCHIVES: AGAINST AUSTERITY – YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUTH WORKERS STAND TOGETHER
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
3M ago
The following post appeared on the IDYW website as the year 2010 came to a conflictual close. Tragically, thirteen years later, if anything, the situation is worse. In this light the tone and intent of the IDYW call to arms might well seem naive and optimistic. Today, the universal desire to create a better society for all is drained by all manner of division and distraction. It is suppressed within an authoritarian culture, which feeds off the fuelling of anxiety, the stifling of critical dialogue and the cultivation of the differing forms of misanthropy, presently displayed across the politi ..read more
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FROM THE ARCHIVES: Defending Youth Work in Queensland – different yet the same!
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
4M ago
Back in the summer of 2014, I was privileged to speak on behalf of In Defence of Youth Work in Brisbane at the Queensland State of Youth Affairs national conference. I remain indebted to Siyavash Doostkhah for making this possible. At the time I returned feeling optimistic that our resistance to the imposed, prescriptive agenda of the Impact Behaviourists was shared more widely. In the long-term, though, collective resistance in the UK was slowly ground down – hence the demise of IDYW itself. Almost a decade on I’m not sure where Queensland is up to? Quite a lot of the promises mentioned below ..read more
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From the Archives, July 2014 – Gaza Youth Speak Out
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
6M ago
Nine years ago, for a brief period, IDYW was aware of a group, Gaza Youth Break Out [GBYO]. We had stumbled over its Facebook page, which is now long gone. As it was, not to our credit, we lost touch. On the 19th of July, 2014 we posted the following on our website. Gaza Youth Speak Out: Enough is Enough! The group, Gaza Youth Break Out [GBYO], unfailingly brave in their criticisms of both Fatah and Hamas within Palestinian politics, send a message of anguish in the face of the Israeli assault. We do not want to hate, we do not want to feel all of these feelings, we do not want to be vic ..read more
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Susan Atkins still defending ……
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
7M ago
I am not sure Sue will thank me for noting that, committed as ever in her ninth decade, she continues to defend. to borrow a phrase, ‘youth work that is volatile and voluntary, creative and collective – an association and conversation without guarantees’. She remains an inspiration and it’s a pleasure to draw your attention to her latest Youth Association South Yorkshire [YASY] Annual Report. Youth Association South Yorkshire Annual Report 2023 Locally, nationally and globally our world seems to be entering another period of transition. We have weathered so many changes over the years as an ..read more
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FROM THE ARCHIVES JUNE 2009 -Youth Work Values Under Threat
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
1y ago
More or less every month I’ll dig into the archives for pieces that might be of interest or pertinence. I’ve settled on doing so chronologically from the emergence of IDYW in 2009. The following post dates from June 2009. Sadly the links don’t work. There may be a possibility of unearthing the report, ‘Squaring the Circle’. Youth work’s values under threat is the title of a new piece in Children and Young People Now focused on Squaring the Circle , the ‘modest’ inquiry into the state of youth work practice led by Brian Merton and Bernard Davies. The report says: “This inquiry h ..read more
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From the archive: Were we being precious in 2009?
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
1y ago
This post contains an exchange between myself and Ravi Chandirimani, then the editor of CYPN. It dates from May 2009. He advised those involved in IDYW to embrace pragmatism. Being pragmatic has certainly done him no harm. He sits today on the Mark Allen Board of Directors. Fair enough. Does the success of his individual pragmatism expose the naive preciousness of the collective, that was the IDYW? Or, ironically, given the failure of IDYW to organise a successful resistance to the behavioural capture of youth work, what has been the price of the victory of Ravi’s pragmatic advice? The links ..read more
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Thinking about the Past, Present and Future of IDYW
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
1y ago
Below you will find the lead contribution I made to the final IDYW Steering Group meeting held on Friday, October 8th in Manchester. As it was the train of my thought was often, necessarily and fruitfully interrupted by the musings and memories of those present. These interventions made for a challenging yet always supportive critical, collective conversation. Unfortunately I can’t do justice to that process. Hence you are getting no more than my opening and closing remarks. The substance of my offering was an effort to trace major events and significant themes in the life of IDYW since 2009 ..read more
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IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK CLOSES ITS BOOKS IN SADNESS BUT WITH MUCH PRIDE
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by Tony Taylor
1y ago
The original IDYW logo IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK CLOSES ITS BOOKS IN SADNESS BUT WITH MUCH PRIDE At our very first national conference in 2009, Janet Batsleer welcomed us to an ‘unauthorised space’. Her eloquent words ring down through the years. In Defence of Youth Work as a campaign and critical forum is no more. At an Open Steering Group meeting held in Manchester on Friday, October 7th, amidst smiles, frowns and tears, it was agreed that IDYW had run its course, having lost its impetus and energy. In exploring why this was so and where we were up to, it became plain we had much of which t ..read more
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Questions for Paulo on his 100th Birthday – A workshop for celebration & diffraction of Freire’s work
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK
by streetworker
2y ago
Please join In Defence of Youth Work, Institute of Youth Work & TAG/PALYCW to discuss the relevance of Paulo to youth work today especially in relation to Anti-Oppressive Practice. ‘What does ‘anti-oppressive practice’ mean in youth and community work now? This event invites youth and community workers of all generations to meet to explore the impact of powerful political agendas on practice and what the wisdom of Paolo Freire’s approach to education for the practice of freedom offers in the context of contemporary crises. There will be provocations by : Rick Bowler Mike Winseal Liz Wool ..read more
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