Youth work
Back in 1972, fresh from University at Kent, Alan embarked on
his first full time job. He found himself in the land of Clockwork
Orange – literally where the film had partly been filmed
– Harlow New Town. A place teeming with teenagers.
His job? He was Deputy Warden of what was then the largest youth
centre in Europe – with a membership of several thousand
– about 70 part-time staff and a nightly attendance of 400
hundred to a thousand. It had a main hall that could hold nearly
a thousand youngsters for gigs and discos, a swimming pool, motor
maintenance and woodwork, rooms for classes, pool, table tennis
and even a Progressive Rock room complete with liquid wheels and
more! It was quite a baptism, especially as the Warden became
so stressed that she went on extended leave, and Alan was appointed
Acting Warden.
 Fast
forward through time as a youth tutor in West Sussex; R&D
youth worker in London’s Covent Garden as it was being redeveloped
into an arts community, and onto Ealing in 1975 at the time of
punk, reggae and the Southall riots. Then in 1978 Alan moved up
to Scotland as the Training and Publications Officer for the section
of the Scottish Office charged with developing ‘intermediate
treatment’ – an arcane term for working with kids
on then edge of becoming career delinquents and criminals.
Throughout this time and since, Alan has continued to work with
colleagues throughout Scotland, the UK, and even further afield
into Africa and beyond – particularly in generating practical
ideas, games and activities for creative work with young people.
Hence the books in this
section. Enjoy.
Also, here are a few links to other youth work sites (see also
the Training, research and management
section):
National Youth Agency:
www.nya.org.uk/
UK Youth:
www.ukyouth.org/
National Children’s Bureau:
www.ncb.org.uk
Children and Young People Now magazine:
www.cypnow.co.uk
Detached youth work info:
www.detachedyouthwork.info/
Global youth work:
www.dea.org.uk/
Playing for Success:
www.playingforsuccessonline.org.uk |
