Social Inclusion For Young People

Social exclusion, the polarisation of the types of chances life offers to different groups of young people, is increasing and is concentrated in some regions and neighbourhoods. Social class, race and gender can contribute to this phenomenon, as can other inequalities such as disability. Social inclusion is therefore one of the central goals of European policies towards young people, especially in relation to employment, lifelong learning and vocational guidance. This publication contains an edited collection of articles from a research seminar held in Budapest in October/November 2005 and organised within the framework of the Partnership on Youth between the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

Social inclusion and participation have become policy mantras in the UK and Europe. As these concepts are being translated into policies and practice, it is a critical time to examine their interpretation, implementation and impacts. This book asks how far and in what way social inclusion policies are meeting the needs of children and young people.

Youth Policy and Social Inclusion takes a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to identify and analyze the factors which promote or discourage social inclusion of young people in society today.

Can the digital revolution help us to tackle existing inequalities, or does it leave some young people even further behind? Is the digital world equally accessible to all young people? What are some of the inherent inequalities within the digital sphere? Do digital tools enable youth organisations, youth workers or state bodies to "reach out" to marginalised young people?Digital methods, tools and platforms, and their unexplored potential in the youth sector, have created much enthusiasm within the youth field. This Youth Knowledge publication explores the intersection between digitalisation and social inclusion of young people, reflecting especially on how digitalisation affects young people's lives, and what the role of youth policy, youth work and youth research can be in this respect.In these 16 chapters, the authors critically examine if and how digitalisation can support the quest for social inclusion, ranging from the exploration of policies, tools and platforms available to young people and youth workers in Europe, supporting young people's access to education and employment opportunities, opening up avenues for digital youth work, providing opportunities for participation for young people with disabilities, channels of integration for migrant communities and young refugees across Europe and support networks for young LGBTI persons.While there is an acknowledgement of the potential for the youth sector to use the possibilities of digitalisation to address social inequality, the authors also emphasise that this does not happen automatically, and more reflection is needed regarding the accessibility of technology and how our digital approaches can be made inclusive for young people from all backgrounds

This book asks how far and in what way social inclusion policies are meeting the needs and rights of children and young people. Leading authors write from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines including social policy, education, geography and sociology. The book critically examines the concepts of participation and social inclusion and their links with children and childhoods and considers the geography of social inclusion and exclusion. It explores young people's own conceptualisations of social inclusion and exclusion; and examines how these concepts have been expressed in policy at various levels. The book concludes with an agenda for progressing participation and social inclusion, both for and with children and young people. Children, young people and social inclusion will be of interest to academics, students and policy makers, as well as to a wide range of practitioners including teachers, youth workers, participation workers and those working in interagency settings.

Drawing together contributions from experts at the forefront of research in the field, Supporting Social Inclusion for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders demonstrates that social inclusion is a defining feature of successful education of students with a spectrum disorder. Divided into three parts, this book begins by proposing a contemporary and operational definition of social inclusion that will help facilitate active engagement by all stakeholders involved in supporting social inclusion within educational settings. The relationship between well-developed social skills and positive social outcomes is also explored, and subsequent chapters explicate and contextualize social inclusion across a range of educational settings. The final chapters present case studies and viewpoints from stakeholders central to the successful social inclusion of students with the disorder. Through discussion of its findings, this book provides the reader with a deep understanding of social inclusion and confirms its importance in facilitating positive educational outcomes for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A unique contribution to the field, this book will be of key interest to postgraduates, researchers and academics in the area of inclusive education and Autism Spectrum Disorder. It will also appeal to those who research, study and work in the areas of special and inclusive education, and developmental psychology.

Mentoring Children and Young People for Social Inclusion critically analyses the challenges and possibilities of mentoring approaches to youth welfare and equality. It explores existing youth mentoring programmes targeted towards youth in care, immigrant, and refugee populations, and considers the extent to which these can aid social inclusion. The book compiles works by scholars from different countries focused on how child and youth mentoring has been changing globally in recent years and how these changes are identified and approached in different contexts. The book seeks to address what empowering youth means in different socio-political contexts, how mentoring is approached by governments and NGOs, and how these approaches shape mentoring relationships. It provides insights on how mentoring can tackle structural inequalities and work towards child and youth empowerment. This book will be of great interest for academics, scholars, and postgraduate students in the area of inclusive education and mentoring. It will also be useful reading for social workers, community developers, and practitioners working in NGOs, as well as for governments looking for innovative ways to generate interventions in the educational and social arena.

Today, there is an ample and nuanced understanding of what social exclusion is, the groups of young people affected by it, its long-term impact on young people’s lives and how comprehensive policies can address it. In contrast to when the first edition of this T-Kit was published, in 2003, there is now a common understanding that youth policies and research should provide a strong base for youth work to reach out and support young people with fewer opportunities. This revised T-Kit aims to equip youth work practitioners with broad knowledge of the concepts of social exclusion and inclusion, as well as things to consider when engaging in youth work with young people with fewer opportunities. The practical part of the T-Kit includes a range of projects, approaches and activities to inspire youth workers, covering the five “A”s: 1. Awareness of the realities of social exclusion, 2. Access to empowering and inclusive activities, 3. Action and support mechanisms for inclusion, 4. Accreditation and recognition of experience, progress and achievement and 5. Advancement, laying down supportive stepping stones towards inclusion.

Youth and the future What will become of today’s young people in Australia, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America? Will they be supportive of the world they live in? Or are they doomed to be criminal drop-outs? The authors investigate to which extent different and contradictory trends of social modernisation and economic progress determine the biographical development and social integration of young people in different countries and world regions. Thus, the authors look at the role young people themselves can play in the future; either as construc tive social actors or as a problematic – and partly excluded – group unable to face the challenges of a permanently changing world.

Taking a holistic and multidisciplinary approach this book identifies and analyzes the factors which promote or discourage social inclusion of young people in today’s society. It critically examines the discriminatory attitudes towards young people, and focuses on the 'problem' of adults rather than the 'problem' of young people themselves. The authors ask searching questions about society's capacity and willingness to be more socially inclusive of young people in terms of policy and practice, and explore the extent to which young people have access to status, rights and responsibilities as young adults. Challenging existing theory the book covers issues including: citizenship, education, rights, youth transactions, drug use, homelessness, teenage pregnancy and unemployment. Incorporating the views and experiences of young people themselves, the book highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the academic contribution and suggests ways forward for a more inclusive society.