For Youth Workers and Youth Work

Doug Nicholls has been a professional and trade union leader of youth workers for over thirty years. He has written extensively on the history of unionisation in the sector and youth work, and produced unique publications on key issues in practice. His advocacy for youth work and youth workers throughout the UK and Ireland have put him in the forefront of debates about theory and practice and much of this experience is distilled into this new publication.

• What youth workers do; Youth work and neoliberalism in Britain; Youth workers as workers; Youth workers as trade unionists; Youth workers as professionals; Youth workers as socialists; Youth workers in defence of youth work; Youth work and positive activities and holiday camps; Youth workers as leaders; Youth workers as reflective analytical practitioners; Youth workers and the state; Youth workers and internationalism; Youth work and inequality; Youth in a suspect society; New youth workers, new youth work.

"Doug Nicholls' message - the need for a new youth work for a new century - is sometimes polemical, often provocative, invariably partisan and always passionate. But it is principled, and it is essential that we reflect carefully on his words." Howard Williamson, Professor of European Youth Policy, University of Glamorgan