ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relationship between young people, youth work and active participation. It focuses on some of the key tenets on which participatory practice is based before inviting the reader to consider how to develop participatory approaches to working with young people. The chapter examines the various policy developments that have sought to integrate citizenship education and participatory practice into different organisations. The move towards participatory practice has been underpinned by a number of key shifts at both a global and national level. An equally powerful factor that has contributed to the growth of participatory practice can be found in changes to social policy and welfare since the late 1970s. One can challenge the policy notions by emphasising the importance of starting from where young people are at in terms of understanding their existing patterns of social participation. The young people in case demonstrate a clear relationship between their instrumental actions and a wider awareness of why participation matters.
