ABSTRACT
The youth worker as converter is a very powerful concept. It invokes a whole range of assumptions about the role of youth workers and the outcomes of the youth work they undertake. It is an ethical minefield. However, it is essential that this somewhat controversial area of work is openly discussed and debated at this time when statutory youth provision is being reduced and there is an increase in the work of the voluntary sector. Many of these new youth workers are being appointed by religious organisations.
