Illustration by Coline Robin

Three years and plenty of new opportunities ahead

What does the Youth Partnership have in its new work plan for youth workers?

 By László Milutinovits 

After reading about the positive experiences of the Convention’s participants, as well as its outcomes and future plans, you might be asking yourself: what does all this mean for me?

Actually, no matter how many of us were there in Malta, this group of more than five hundred people represents only a tiny part of the wider youth work community of practice across Europe. But no worries — the Convention, and the insights and voices of its participants, have helped the Youth Partnership immensely in shaping its new work plan for 2026–2028. We hope to offer plenty of projects of interest to you. Let’s see what lies ahead!
Probably many of our readers already know that the Youth Partnership has contributed to this and all previous conventions by providing expertise, knowledge, and technical support. In line with the agreement between its two partner institutions, it has also gained an increasingly important mandate in the field of youth work development in recent years. What may be less known is that the conventions also influence our work by providing direction, ideas, and inspiration. This year’s Convention helped us shape our work plan more than ever — so let’s take a look at what we’ll be doing from January 2026.

 A leading role at the European level

First of all, the European Youth Work Agenda is not being left behind — it will continue to guide our work in the coming years, alongside the new Strategic Roadmap that builds on the Convention’s outcomes.

The Youth Partnership will continue coordinating European processes by convening a reference group on youth work development. This group will serve as a platform for dialogue and regular exchange between the European Union, the Council of Europe, and key stakeholders active in youth work development at the European level.

We are also looking forward to an exciting new adventure — developing a European Code of Ethics for Youth Work. Engaging in such an endeavour is a major responsibility, but we can build on a wealth of knowledge from existing similar initiatives. This Code will aim not only to inspire, guide, and support youth work organisations and practitioners in fulfilling their roles amid complex societal challenges but also to contribute to greater recognition of our profession.

What do you think? Is there a practice in your country that we should take into account? If yes, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Despite the diversity and abundance of existing learning opportunities at international level, we still believe that the evidence-based activities of the Youth Partnership add significant value. Therefore, throughout the next three years, more learning activities will be offered than ever before.

We will organise a series of seminars aimed at strengthening youth workers’ capacities by linking their daily practice with the latest research findings. The topics will range from rural youth, young people’s mental health and well-being, and resilience to critical thinking, peace education, and preparedness. Other seminars will focus on the everyday work of youth organisations, exploring themes such as project and financial management and navigating shrinking civic space.

As part of our capacity-building efforts, we will also revise existing and produce new Training Kits, and our Massive Open Online Course titled Essentials of Youth Work will remain available and regularly updated.

 Cries in the wilderness?

It goes without saying that without youth work at local and national levels, European initiatives and guidelines would remain mere cries in the wilderness. Something that Spiffy might not mind — but still, we believe it’s crucial to complement international activities with solid support at national level.
Most importantly, after several successful years of the SNAC project Growing Youth Work, the Youth Partnership will take over the coordination of the network of National Contact Points on Youth Work from 2027 onwards, following a transitional year in 2026. Renamed as the Network of National Correspondents on Youth Work, it aims to strengthen youth work development at the national level across Europe. Members will benefit from regular networking and capacity-building opportunities within the work plan.

Recognising the importance of advocacy and visibility, we will also engage in a communication campaign to promote the importance and value of youth work across Europe using the key messages from the new Advocacy kit. Our joint effort will build on strong collaboration with our partners — including the European Youth Forum, ERYICA, the Alliance of Youth Worker Associations (AYWA), SALTO Resource Centres, and National Agencies implementing EU youth programmes.

 Keeping an eye on achievements — and shortcomings

Gaining better recognition and improving the quality of youth work require taking a serious look at both investments and impact. For this reason, mapping youth work development at European and national levels will be another essential mission for the Youth Partnership. Our studies will assess youth work developments at both levels, aligned with key policy directions from our partner institutions.

Finally, don’t forget to check out other articles in Coyote Magazine and follow our social media channels — for podcasts, interviews, infographics, and calls for participants and experts. There will be plenty of useful and fun learning opportunities to help you stay up to date with all the latest developments in European youth work.

Please stay with us! We count on your curiosity, active involvement, and participation.

Together, we can continue advancing youth work — creating enriching opportunities for young people  and contributing to a more peaceful and democratic Europe in the years to come.