The notion of youth ‘leadership’ has slipped away as the wider profession has defined itself as working much more closely alongside young people themselves, being seen as their professional friends, allies, surrogate voices, enablers and/or advocates. Leadership is a privilege, earned and granted, and it requires a level of self-organisation and discipline. It is a direct line of thought into others, fellow professionals, and young people. But it must also be a direct line back from the group being worked with to enrich future work and to change the circumstances limiting the immediate group’s opportunities and knowledge. It is not a filtering of ideas to suit prejudice, or personal pride, and it is impossible if a subjective rather than an objective approach is taken. Youth workers must be non-judgemental in order to lead, you must, at the same time, make sound judgements.

Being unpopular

Leadership is honesty, not popularity, it is challenge, not agreement, it is respect earned with actions, not just words. Leaders are sometimes elected, but elections do not always make leaders, only honesty over time does this. Young people do not meaningfully choose their first interaction with youth workers – youth workers are appointed by others.

Providing leadership means having the courage to see things as they are, and to act accordingly. It is earning the privilege to walk in a direction, which may often be difficult, and to know that others will follow, as thinking beings who recognise the value of collective thought and action.