Barriers and enablers to UK-German youth exchanges within the youth sector
Encouraging UK-German Youth Exchanges
Enablers for youth organisations and youth services In the youth worker survey participants were asked to rate the extent to which various enablers would encourage their organisations to become more involved in UK-German youth exchanges, using a four-point Likert scale equivalent to 0-3, (Graph 5.11).
Graph 5.12 Youth workers – In your view, how much would the following things increase your organisation’s ability to become more involved in UK-German youth exchanges? By country group
2. Examples of best practice and how-to guides, 3. International exchanges for youth workers, 4. Contact with other German organisations involved in youth exchanges. Youth workers were also asked to rate the extent to which various enablers would build their organisations capacity to become more involved in UK-German youth exchanges, using a four-point Likert scale equivalent to 0-3 (Graph 5.12). Within both the UK and Germany, on average, the highest rated enablers related to organisational capacity were: 1. Increased funding for youth exchanges, 2. Support for long-term international partnerships, 3. National or regional policies and programmes encouraging youth exchanges.
UK DE
2.8 2.8
Increased funding for youth exchanges (n= 43 UK , 68 DE)
Within the UK, on average, the highest rated enablers related to organisational interest were:
2.7 2.7
Support for long-term international partnerships (n= 43 UK, 74 DE)
1. National policies or programmes encouraging youth exchanges, 2. Contact with other UK organisations involved in youth exchanges, 3. International exchanges for youth workers, 4. Examples of best practice and how-to guides.
2.5 2.5
National or regional policies and programmes encouraging youth exchanges (n= 42 UK, 71 DE)
2.5
Support identifying international contacts (n= 43 UK, 69 DE)
2.2
2.4 2.4
International exchanges for youth workers (n= 44 UK, 72 DE)
2.2
Staff training (n= 43 UK, 74 DE)
2.3
2.1
1 to 1 guidance (e.g., grant advisor) (n= 44 UK, 72 DE)
2.4
Within Germany, the highest rated enablers related to organisational interest on average were:
2.0
Impact measurement and evaluation tools (n= 42 UK, 72 DE)
1.4
1. National policies or programmes encouraging youth exchanges,
0
1
2
3
Mean rating (0=Not at all, 1=To a small extent, 2=To a moderate extent, 3=To a great extent)
UK interviewees placed value on youth work specific infrastructure that was very well connected to and had good understanding of local youth work practice. The idea of an infrastructure body that could provide intensive advice and mentoring to those developing exchanges, was favoured. Within the interviews, many youth worker participants described a situation where they would want direct support with establishing and undertaking international work which they were not fully confident in doing, and which was not currently a core focus of their work. The Taith Champions model was given as an example of the desired type of infrastructure. Some interviewees were also interested in infrastructure that helped to develop exchanges across multiple UK youth organisations. Others suggested an organisation which could provide emergency backup in the event of an accident or unforeseen circumstance during an exchange. This was said to be important for smaller youth organisations who may not have the internal financial and human resources to cope in these scenarios.
Building on the interviews with youth workers and discussion with the resonance group, it is clear that the single most important enabler for UK-German youth exchanges is a dedicated and well-resourced funding programme. Such a programme was requested to provide funding for the full costs of exchanges, including preparation activities, follow-on activities, and staff time (including replacement staff cover) as well as costs to participants such as passport or luggage. Without a finding scheme approaching this nature in place it is highly unlikely there will be a substantial increase in youth organisations undertaking UK-German exchanges. Linked to this, there is a desire for some form of infrastructure support to enable access to the funding, support the development of partnership between UK and German organisations, and assist organisations and youth workers to develop their competences and capacities to undertake exchanges. The specific approaches desired for infrastructure were somewhat different between countries.
Graph 5.11 Youth workers – In your view, how much would the following things encourage your organisation to become more involved in UK-German youth exchanges? By country group
2.6 2.6
National policies or programmes encouraging youth exchanges (n= 43 UK, 69 DE) Contact with organisations in own country already involved in youth exchanges (n= 44 UK, 73 DE) International exchanges for youth workers (n= 42 UK, 69 DE) Examples of best practice and how-to guides (n= 42 UK, 69 DE) Externally delivered youth exchanges my organisation can signpost young people to (n= 42 UK, 71 DE) Evaluations of the impact of youth exchanges (n= 44 UK, 71 DE)
2.5
2.1
2.4
2.3 2.3 2.3
2.1
1.6
UK DE
2.1
1.6
0
1
2
3
Mean rating (0=Not at all, 1=To a small extent, 2=To a moderate extent, 3=To a great extent)
72
73
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