I’m pleased to have played a part in persuading my dear friend, Bernard Davies to enter the world of blogging. Indeed I’ve lent a helping hand in setting up the blog, ‘Youth Work’s Living History’.

Find below the opening post, which outlines the reasons behind Bernard taking this step into the contrary world of social media.

Introducing the Blog

LIVING HISTORY

YOUTH WORK (DE)CONSTRUCTION – UPDATED

Doing the research for my book, ‘Austerity, Youth Policy and the Deconstruction of the Youth Service in England’; actually writing its 100,000+ words; and then waiting for it to find its way through the publishers various editing and production procedures – all that took well over two years. Given that the book’s main focuses are a constantly evolving educational provision and practice set within wider policy contexts which also change all the time, it’s hardly surprising that nine months after it was finished some of its content has been overtaken by events – by new facts on the ground, shifting ideas and priorities, re-considered analysis, revised perceptions and interpretations.

So… as an alternative to even contemplating a ‘sequel’ which would itself also soon fall behind the times, what follows is the first of (hopefully) a series of occasional pieces on one of the areas covered by book which in my judgement merits – needs – ‘updating’ and even perhaps extending. By the very nature of the exercise, how often these will appear is unpredictable since – a key defining feature, surely, of any ‘living history’ – researching and then writing them will depend not just on when but also if significant relevant events, proposals, pronouncements etc occur.

Topics which however could justify and so would get similar attention might be:

• Young people and their ‘condition’
• Other youth policies and provision, including what I call in the book ‘gestures policies’
• NCS and ‘youth social action’
• The voluntary and community sector
• ‘Youth voice’
• ‘Outcomes’
• Youth work training and qualifications.

As my plan is also from time to time to update the updates, critical feedback to davies@vip.solis.co.uk or via the Comments facility is welcome and indeed needed – not least on gaps, new evidence (with sources) and examples (with where appropriate quotes and again sources).

It may be too that I begin to post some of my past writing, which seems to retain a measure of interest and relevance.

Bernard Davies
July 2019