Social Pedagogy and Youth and Community Work

The International Journal of Social Pedagogy invites papers that deepen understanding of the multi-faceted relationship between social pedagogy and youth work in promoting young people’s emancipation, empowerment and political rights. This special issue explores the benefits and challenges of aligning these value-based fields, especially as social pedagogy gains professional recognition in the UK and youth work continues to navigate tensions around managerialism, relationships, and ethical practice. We welcome international contributions that examine how both traditions’ shared focus on positive relationships, participation and social justice might support a needed ‘paradigm shift’ in practice, and whether hybrid approaches could help address current social concerns and inspire renewed social action.

Articles are published open access and can be read freely online by anyone; please see the article list below.

Publication date: 2025

Guest Editors

Mick Conroy Urban Circle Newport

Trudi Cooper Edith Cowan University

Simon Edwards, University of Portsmouth

Kevin Jones National Youth Agency

Alia Pike National Youth Agency

Howard Williamson National Youth Agency

Articles

Practice paper

Resisting the professional turn: revisiting youth work as a covenantal process

Simon Edwards and Richard Evea

2025-09-03 Volume 14 • Issue 1 • 2025

Also a part of:

Special series: Social Pedagogy and Youth and Community Work