MA thesis, Working for children and young people (Youth Work Initial Qualifying) degree.

In order to deliver effective youth work, support must be tailored to the specific needs of the young people. In the last 12 months, the UK has received 74,751 asylum applications with 75% resulting in a grant of asylum or humanitarian protection (Refugee Council, 2023). Of the 74,751 applications, there were a total of 5,152 applications from unaccompanied children currently separated from their parents and family members (Refugee Council, 2023). With a lack of family identified, youth work is pivotal in facilitating; personal, social and educational development, and helping them find their voice, influence and place in society, allowing them to achieve their full potential (Youth Work in Wales Principles and Purposes (YWIWPAP), 2023).

The aims of this thesis are to:

• Explore the significance, if any, of ‘belonging’ for young, male, refugees and asylum seekers in Newport.


• To explore the enablers and barriers to ‘belonging’ for young, male, refugees and asylum seekers in Newport.


• To gather data, providing local youth provisions and policymakers the opportunity to tailor services to create a sense of belonging for young, male, refugees and asylum seekers in Newport.

MA thesis, Working for children and young people (Youth Work Initial Qualifying) degree.

This study explores the multifaceted role of youth work in aiding the settlement and integration of young Afghan immigrants in the UK.
Drawing on youth work values and principles, relevant strategy and policy, and National Occupational Standards for Youth Work, this research investigates the alignment of youth work with the objectives of facilitating Afghan immigrants' settlement and integration.

By thoroughly exploring the experiences of young Afghan immigrants within the context of youth work, this study aims to identify the specific obstacles they face in the UK and offer insights for practitioners, policymakers, and institutions in order to support them.

A comparative analysis of youth worker and teacher perceptions of each other, in five secondary school settings in South Wales.

MA thesis. The aim of the study was to undertake a small scale comparative analysis of youth worker and teacher perceptions of each other, in five secondary school settings in South Wales. The objectives of the research were to gain an insight into, and better understand the views and lived experiences of both teachers and youth workers practicing in state run secondary school provisions, in order to improve project effectiveness and contextualise youth worker contributions within formal education settings.

MA Dissertation.

In November 2018 Caerphilly Youth Service introduced a pilot scheme with the purpose of providing a universal model of youth work delivery to increase participation of young people, recognised as requiring support, in a cluster area registered as the Caerphilly East. This dissertation evaluates this scheme, asking should it now become the adopted model of delivery. Through extensive examination of relevant literature and empirical research, involving a mixed method approach where young people and youth workers completed questionnaires and participated  in interviews, two main themes were identified,  ‘Building Blocks’ (pre-requisites for young people to thrive) and ‘Scaffolding’ (what is needed to hold up the services for young people).

Relationships, support and activities were recognised as working well, however the cluster size and availability of regular outdoor activities were found to not work so well. Improvements are required to the communication of information, number of sessions on offer and the participation levels of young people involved. Participants supported this scheme becoming the adopted model, although the researcher learned that the size of the cluster area requires a significant reduction and that young people and youth workers would benefit from being involved in cluster meetings.

This paper provides an overview of policy at UK, national and local level, determining how services to young people in Wales will be developed and delivered. This does not intend to examine government policy in any depth. Rather, it intends to provide a broad overview as a means of providing a foundation for further investigation.

Draft paper - A Practitioner’s Overview to Holistic Learning.

An impact on self-esteem through the enhancement of an individual’s cognition.

The objective of this discussion paper is to create a dialogue on the projected impact that non formal learning may have on a learner’s cognition. There are no attempts to present extensive research evidence relevant to the propositions made but selective theories will appear, where necessary, to offer clarity to the propositions, and aid the discussion.

The proposition argues that with the evidence/data collected, and set against the cognitive/learning skills, that are embedded within the standardised framework, it will demonstrate the positive connection that exists between enhanced cognition and improved self-esteem

BA(Hons) Youth & Community Work (Youth Justice) Dissertation.

This small scale research study involves a case study asking a question of whether a Learning Pathway Centre in Caerphilly is seen to be successful based on the perceptions of young people, teachers, and youth workers.