Conclusions and recommendations
Encouraging UK-German Youth Exchanges
Recommendations Based on the findings of this research, a series of recommendations on actions needed to foster greater UK-German youth exchanges were developed by the project resonance group. The resonance group was composed of youth workers and representatives of youth organisations from both the UK and Germany. This group provided the inputs and basis for the recommendations below, with the specific text drafted based upon their discussions.
things such as young people being involved in planning programmes, selecting exchange topics, or developing any grant or funding applications for the exchange in collaboration with their youth worker. To achieve this, any programmes to encourage UK-German exchanges should enable pre-existing groups of young people (e.g., participants in local youth projects, youth clubs or similar) to work together to develop exchanges for their own group. This participatory group work approach can be distinguished from both exchanges for individual young people and situations where a youth organisation or youth service receives funding for youth exchanges without having a group of participants already in place. 4. Utilise a range of different youth exchange formats and topics whilst maintaining a core focus on personal and social development, and intercultural learning The key part of quality international exchange is the advancement of young people’s personal and social development and intercultural learning. A range of different formats, topics and themes may be used to achieve this learning. Specific topics (such as the environment, or the arts) can also be utilised as a methodology. There is also interest from young people and youth workers for a range of different topics and formats of youth exchange which can enable intercultural experiences. So, whilst a core focus on intercultural learning is always required within an international youth exchange, the exact themes, formats, and pedagogic methods used can be varied. These themes, formats and methods can be based on the needs and interests of the young people involved in the specific exchange as well as the capacities and priorities of partners supporting it. It is therefore important to enable flexibility for youth organisations and youth services involved to develop a range of different approaches and designs for youth exchanges. This allows youth exchanges to be driven and shaped by the specific young people and organisations involved, customised to meet the needs of marginalised groups, and may also stimulate creativity and innovation.
Developing quality exchange offers for and with young people There is a common idea of what a quality exchange offer looks like across both countries. Some youth exchange formats and topics were identified as more popular amongst young people or youth workers within the research. However, it is understood that quality exchanges can take place in a variety of ways, based on core elements of inclusion, participatory group work, support from youth workers, and personal and social development through intercultural learning.
access to international travel otherwise. Within Germany, there is an approach to making youth work accessible to all and commitment to inclusion and diversity. Therefore, to maximise the potential for partnerships, any new or updated UK-German exchange offers or programmes will need to give emphasis to enabling young people from marginalised backgrounds to take part in youth exchanges. This can mean encouraging exchanges targeted at young people in marginalised circumstances. It can also mean ensuring that exchanges intended to be open to all have taken sufficient steps to be accessible and inclusive to those young people who may need additional support (e.g., through the provision of carers for disabled young people, or additional financial support for young people in poverty). It may also mean ensuring that exchanges are developed by youth projects connected to communities of young people in marginalised circumstances. 3. Develop youth exchanges that are group- based, and enable pre-existing groups of young people to actively participate in planning their own exchanges In both countries group work and youth participation is understood to be the core of good quality youth work practice. Group exchange formats are also popular with young people. A quality youth exchange requires a process through which a group of young people are able to contribute to the planning and development of an exchange, which they then go on to take part in. A participatory group work process, and the opportunity to collaborate with a similar group in another country forms a key part of the learning experience for participants. To enable this process, young people need to be supported by youth workers in a way that is appropriate to the needs of the group. This may include
In this context, any new or updated funding, policy actions or initiatives to enable UK-German exchanges should enable the youth sector to: 1. Develop youth exchanges which are accessible and affordable to young people The costs of taking part in a youth exchange is a barrier to many young people, especially those in marginalised groups. Both the German and UK youth sector have an interest in enabling youth exchanges to be accessible to a diverse range of young people. Therefore, youth exchange offers should be developed which have minimum, and in many cases zero, financial costs for young people to take part. (For instance, by removing or lowering participants’ fees or providing support for costs of passports or luggage for those in the most financially challenging circumstances.) 2. Develop youth exchanges which involve young people from marginalised backgrounds On the UK side there is a funding and policy context emphasising youth work for those in vulnerable and marginalised situations and professional interest in prioritising exchanges for those who might not have
5. Ensure youth exchanges are high quality, well planned, and well supported by youth work Building on the points above there is a need to ensure the delivery of UK-German youth exchanges provides quality learning opportunities for young people. This relies on good quality youth work support, delivered by either paid staff or volunteers. Sufficient resources for planning and development and follow-on from exchanges are also vital to address matters such as risk assessment, safeguarding, inclusion of marginalised groups and dissemination of results.
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