“The youth worker takes more interest in the young people here, which makes it more interesting to get involved.” (Young person, workshop, Southeast, 2024) 

Role Cards

“A youth worker has many hats… they’re an informal educator… a trusted adult… a glorified counsellor without the counselling training but have counselling skills.” (Youth worker, interview 2024)

We identified 10 ‘roles’, often overlapping or existing in tandem. They fall into three main categories that clarify youth workers’ functions:

• interpersonal relationships with young people
• advocacy roles, and
• positions within the wider system.

Each of the cards identifies key attributes and enabling conditions for each role, the intended outcomes, and specific activities that support young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Youth work involves “putting on many hats”, and this resource aims to translate this complexity for those who want to value, understand and further support the diverse functions that youth work serves in young people’s lives and community infrastructure.

Case study films

The following films showcase youth workers at two different organisations and the varied roles and contexts they are operating within.

Return to the Thriving Minds: Learning Hub for more insights and resources.