Youth work has been significantly affected by COVID19; countless youth centres and buildingbased services have been forced to close. Whilst some provision has successfully gone ‘on-line’, the contribution of detached youth workers has come to the fore. Many have continued to work, and lots of centre-based workers have joined them, in providing essential services to young people in their communities, in places young people choose to be. The role of detached youth work in bearing witness to the effects of the pandemic on young people, and helping young people speak up about their experiences, cannot be under-estimated.
This work has not been easy, and many workers have reached out for support. The Federation for Detached Youth Work has proudly worked in partnership with the National Youth Agency to provide this support, by producing information, advice, guidance and policy statements, organising training, and hosting webinars for the detached youth work community. This documentation adds to this, and is focused particularly on the challenges posed by an easing of lockdown. We hope it is useful, please give us your feedback so we can continue to support you and all those involved in detached youth work, now and in the future.