Pugh, Carole (2026) Youth work and political socialisation: Recognising the role of informal democratic education. In: PSA 76th International Annual Conference: Political Studies Futures, 30th March-1st April 2026, University of Oxford.

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Abstract

Despite engaging 4.4 million young people annually (UK Youth & Frontier Economics, 2022), youth work’s contribution to political socialisation remains overlooked in English policy and research (Edmunds, 2012; Kisby & Sloam, 2009; Sloam & Henn, 2019). To achieve its aim of ‘restoring trust in democracy’ (Mycock, 2025), the implementation of Votes at 16 needs to be accompanied by universal democratic education to enable young people to feel sufficiently politically socialised, engaged and literate to vote for the first time (Loughran, Mycock and Tonge, 2021). International research demonstrates non-formal education supports young people’s political socialisation (Amnå, 2012; MacFarland & Thomas, 2006; Roholt et al., 2007). Indeed, the Votes at 16 campaign has roots in good youth work featuring as a recurring UK Youth Parliament campaign (National Youth Agency, 2025). Youth work can be an important element to support young people’s civic journeys (Institute for Community Studies, 2022).
Utilising focus groups with young people [89] and youth workers [21] and participant observation of 56 sessions in four youth projects in a small city in northern England between 2020-22, this paper examines youth work’s capacity to help equip young people for political citizenship. This paper conceptualises the dimensions of political citizenship that youth work in England addresses and outlines youth work’s contribution to democratic socialisation. It identifies the barriers that inhibit youth work’s democratic potential, including the lack of guidance about addressing political topics and protest and the need for professional development for youth workers around democratic education, and develops practical policy recommendations. Thus, it provides evidence which supports the development of an integrated democratic socialisation policy that incorporates formal and informal initiatives (Democracy Classroom, 2025).

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Status:	Published
Subjects:	J Political Science > JA Political science (General) L Education > L Education (General)
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/15237

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