Providing support to young people through groupwork

A key outcome of support work with young people, it is hoped, is increased self awareness and autonomy on the part of the recipient. Engagement in one-toone interventions with youth support workers can enable this process to take place. However, a valuable alternative approach to the work exists, which focuses on helping young people to enhance their personal learning and development (PLD) in a group interaction.This chapter will explore how youth support professionals can facilitate PLD effectively in a group context. It focuses on the following:• Identifying what ‘personal learning and development’ means• Examining how groupwork can enable young people to learn about themselves, develop greater self awareness and make decisions about their lives• Evaluating ways in which being part of a group can lead to positive outcomes for individuals• Analysing the role of the youth support worker in facilitating PLD in the group contextIn addition, the chapter offers a model to inform the planning, preparation and delivery of PLD groupwork with young people