In November 2018, the Scottish Youth Work Research Steering Group published The Impact of Community-based Universal Youth Work in Scotland. The report includes the context for study, the method undertaken and the findings of this 18-month project. The research was commissioned by the Steering Group and undertaken by a research partnership involving YouthLink Scotland, University of Edinburgh, University of St. Mark and St. John (MARJON) in Plymouth alongside three community-based youth work organisations in Scotland.
The research adopted a participatory methodology, involving young people and youth workers in the generation of 129 Significant Change Stories. The study sought to answer two key questions:
- What is the impact of community-based universal youth work in Scotland?
- How has that impact been achieved?