Review of youth workers' role in safeguarding children and young people at risk of or involved in violence
National Youth Agency · 2026
This mixed-methods review examines how youth workers across England and Wales contribute to safeguarding children and young people at risk of, or involved in, violence and child criminal exploitation (CCE). It finds that youth workers play significant formal, informal, and 'semi-formal' safeguarding roles, but their contributions are inconsistently recognised and recorded across local systems. The research identifies five distinct local partnership models and highlights that the nature of youth work involvement is heavily shaped by whether community safety or children's social care leads the response to violence. Key recommendations include developing a standardised safeguarding pathway, producing national guidance on youth work's role, and improving multi-agency training.
