Issue 09: March 1994

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Issue 9
-
March 1994 National Youth Federatio
in.side
TEEN PARENTING
in Ireland
Charles Handy Interview
Tune in to
Music Workshops
Myths, Min.isters and Sex Education
CONTENT
A
Youth Work Focus
•
!most
everybody
who has read the recent
report "Teen
Parenting in Ireland" has been stunned not by the opinions
and recommendations contained in the report but by a statement
of fact: the rate of teenage pregnancy ih Ireland has not changed
Teen Parenting in Ireland -
3-4
Issues of Policy and Practice
significantly over the past twenty years.
But whilst that short sentence may have captured media in­
terest and public attention two more significant questions were
Youth Work Practice
•
effectively ignored. How in an "information society" can a simple
Youth Worker Training
5
Developments
•
analysis of published statistical data be so surprising to so many
people? And how has an almost universal public perception de­
veloped that flies in the face of the 'facts'?
Tune In to Music Workshop in
6-7
Ennis
The significance of these questions goes far beyond erroneous
public opinion. The widespread misconceptions say things abo�t
Youth Work Feature
•
young people (they are irresponsible and abuse the welfare sys­
tem, for example) as well as saying things to young people
Charles Handy talks about
8-9
his latest book
(everybody your age is "doing it" - in one recent US study 75% of
girls and 50% of boys gave peer pressm;e as the principal reason
for becoming sexually active).
Youth Work Resources
The fact that such misconceptions are not only shared but am­
Latest resource materials
10-11
available
ministers, is particularly worrying. What 'prompts such individ­
uals to make statements and, in particular, prescribe ways of ad­
YouthWork Policy
•
plified by the media and our political leaders, including cabinet
dressing "the problem"? Where do they go to check their facts?
12
Dail Watch
Who is responsible when such dangerous, if honestly intended,
falsehoods are disseminated?
The recent response by the Minister for Education to public
Youth Work News
•
concern at the discovery of three abandoned babies is perhaps a
News from around the
13-16
youth service
case in point.
personal
We may soon have a new comprehensive �ocial,
health
and
sex
education
programme. in
schools.
(Although the track record for delivering on such initiatives is
Irish Youth Work Scene
A magazine published five time a year by the
National Youth Federation
20 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin 1.
Tel:Ol 8729933 I Fax:SOl 724183
It is open to all readers to exchange
information or to put forward your points of
poor).
It may even be a significant
development but will it be
effective?
Sex education in schools may well b.e part of the solution. But
if it is not done properly it is unlikely to make a significant differ­
ence or, even more radically, it might prove counter-productive in
view. Send in news, photos, comments,
the absence of other complementary initiatives. Where have such
letters or articles to the editor.
questions been considered? On what facts and perceptic
,ms is the
Views expressed in this magazine are the
contributor's own and do not necessarily
reflect those of the
National Youth Federation.
Editor: Avril Soper
policy based?
Specifically why has the experience of the youth
service not been tapped?
Elsewhere in this issue Charles Handy suggests that educa­
Contributors: Fran Bissett, John Dunne.
tion is already beginning to bypass the school system .. And that
Ken Keogh, Liam Kirwan". Christine Magee.
the youth service will have a growing role in preparing young
Helen Newman, Gearoid
6
Maoilmhichil,
Raymond Rogers
Cover Photograph: Margaret Butler with her
baby Aidan (photo by Sea Byrne)
Design & Layout: Avril Soper
Printing: Focus Print
people for life in the future - including education about moral is­
sues.
It was left to the youth service to discover and speak the
truth about teenage pregnancies in Ireland.
Would it I\Ot make
some sense to include the youth service in the development of an
effective response to the real issues as distinct from the prejudices?
Irish YouthWork Scene
March 1994
page 2
�
Teen Paren
· ting
in Ireland
Issues of Policy & Practice
In November last year, thirty­
crease in the proportion of births
five practitioners and policy makers
occurring outside marriage: 18% in
concerned with the welfare and de­
1992 compared to 3.15% in 1972.
velopment
at­
Indeed non-marital births to teen­
tended
of
a
young
people
seminar
agers fell as a percentage of all
organised by the Irish YouthWork
non-marital births from 38.5% in
Centre on teenage pregnancies and
1981 to 29.5% in 1989.
parenting.
two-day
The
phenomenon
pregnancy
in
of
Ireland
teenage
merits the
considered attention of those orga­
nisations and individuals who work
with and for young people for at
least three reasons:
1.
Education and Sexuality
In preparation for the
Myths also abound with regard
seminar, an information pack was
to the motivations for pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy illustrates
compiled which attempted to ident­
among teenage mothers. Some are
that some young people do not
ify the incidence of teenage preg­
insidious and almost all are without
have the means to control their own
nancies in Ireland, to explain the
a valid research basis.
fertility.
One myth
Clearly all teenage preg­
which
fast gaining momentum, in Britain
nancies can not and should not, be
teenage parents encounter and to
at least, is that young women be­
ascribed to the above but a compa­
offer some ways in which the needs
come pregnant in order to get hous­
rative research shows that in those
of this group can be addressed.
ing and welfare benefits. The only
countries where both contraception
a sum­
British study carried out in the field
and
mary of the issues involved and the
found that teenage mothers knew
were
Clifficulties
This
and
problems
article
provides
education
widely
around
available
sexuality
to
young
conclusions reached as a result of
the seminar and is taken from Teen­
age Parenting in Ireland: Issues of
Policy and Practice published by
Pie Chart: Breakdown of Births to teenagers by Age as a percentage of all teenage
births in 1990
the Irish Youth Work Press.
Summary & Conclusions
II
D
�
�
D
Myths and inaccuracies abound
in relation to teenage pregnancies
and parenting.
Many will be sur­
prised to discover that the numbers
of births to teenagers has not risen
over the last twenty years and that
a very small proportion of these
births are to schoolgirls. Indeed the
number of births to young women
15&U yrs (66) 2.5%
16 yrs (178) 6.7%
17 yrs (458) 17.2%
1 8 yrs
(790) 29%
19 yrs (1176) 44%
under 16 was ten less in 1992 (45)
than in 1972 (55).
The changing
marital status of these mothers may
be the real source of public concern
about teen parenting. In 1972, 24%
almost nothing of the housing and
people and where there was a toler­
of births to women under twenty
welfare system prior to the birth of
ance for teenage sexuality, a con­
their children and most were aston­
siderably
ished at the question.
pregnancy prevailed. In Ireland, the
were outside marriage, by 1993 it
was 89.3%.
lower
rate
of
teen
Teen paren_ting must be seen in
It is very evident that research
experience of youth professionals is
the context of the changing patterns
is needed in order to establish the
that many young people have little
of
nature of teenage parenthood in the
control or choice in relation to their
and family structures in Irish so­
Irish context.
Much of the public
sexual behaviour due to restricted
ciety over the past few decades.
commentary on the issue and many
access to contraception and a lack
employment,
sexual
practices
For example one of the most strik­
ing feature of the birth statistics in
recent years has been the rapid in-
of the national and local responses
of
to it are based on ina(curate and
education
anecdotal information.
relationships.
opportunities
around
for
meaningful
sexuality
and
over>
Irish YouthWork Scene
March 1994
-
page 3
Economic Disadvantage
Services provided by the Health
parenting connects with a number
Associated with teenage preg­
Boards are in many areas confined
of the major issues facing contem­
nancy is a higher than average risk
to an emergency service for families
porary Irish society such as chang­
of poverty and social deprivation.
in crisis.
2.
Unfortunately there is a dearth of
ing family patterns; mothers in the
Although
most
Jone
teenage
workplace; the role of fathers in
data about teenage parents in Ire­
parents return to the family home
parenting; teenage sexuality and so
land but the association has been
initially after the birth a proportion
on. Accordingly the Irish response
demonstrated from research carried
do not and many of these isolated
to teen parenting needs to be at a
out in Britain and the US and is ten­
parents suffer the extreme pressur­
number of levels. These are:
tatively supported from informa­
es of parenting alone without any
tion gathered about Irish lone and
financial,
unmarried mothers of a II ages.
support.
Those
who
become
teenage
practical
or
This group may be most
choices
advantage associated with teen par­
enting in the States and Britain.
•
make
about
informed
their
own
Providing
supports
and
services
those
for
teenagers
who are parents; and
prior to pregnancy. Among them is
•
Graph: Non-marital Births as a Percentage of all Births. Ireland, Europe and the UK
Addressing
structural
issues
which affect teenage parents.
(1960-1990)
The Role of the
30..--�����---,
Youth Service
25
;i
:!;
to
fertility;
at risk of the poverty and social dis­
been
disadvantaged
Empowering young men and
women
mothers are more likely to have
economically
•
emotional
The youth service, in particula
can respond to teenage parenting in
the following ways:
20
Ill
•
�
Provision of education around
sexuality and contraception. This
....
...�,
would be on both an informal
15
0
and
formal basis
and include
work with other key adults in the
i:l
young peoples' lives such as par­
10
Q)
�
ents and teachers.
Q)
p..
•
5
Provision of a range of education
and
training
opportunities
teenage parents.
for
These should
range from informal to formal,
1980
-+-UK.
1975
1965
1970
..... Ireland
-11- Europe
found a higher than average pro­
3.
portion of early school leavers and
unemployed women.
In addition
1985
1990
from training re parenting skills
to accredited vocational courses
and so on
Role of the Father
Teenage parenting is synony­
mous
with
teenage
some aspects of Irish public policy
Invariably the fathers arc almost in·
visible.
mothers in poverty.
and barriers to their participation
port
practices,
employment
and
There arc many obstacles
tance on the part of the youth and
of public child care provision con­
social services to recognise the "role
spire
of
to
encourage
the
mother to stay at home.
young
In those
countries where lone parents arc
fatherhood"
men.
for
these
forces the belief system which says
encouraged and supported to go
young men do not need to, or alter­
out to work they appear to do
natively arc not capable of, taking
better.
responsibility for the outcomes of
·
The stresses of parenting alone
their sexual activity.
recognised
by
The incidence of teenage par­
statutory services in Ireland. There
enting and pregnancy afford many
is a virtual absence of family sup­
opportunities for intervention by
port services such as community
the youth and social services.
It
child care workers, family centres
also raises a number of difficult and
and so on.
complex policy issues.
The Community Care
Irish VouthWork Scene
establishment
of
Lobby at a local and national
level
for
changes
in
policies
which are detrimental to teenage
parents and their offspring.
Teenage parenting and preg­
nancy
in
Ireland
provide
many
challenges for youth and social ser­
vices, not least of which is the con­
stant
vigilance
necessary
to
challenge the prejudice and myths
which surround it. Teenage parent­
as a young woman on a low income
arc inadequately
•
young
This colludes with and rein­
the
parents.
including, it is suggested, a reluc­
training opportunities, and the lack
Facilitate
networks to support young Jon
motherhood.
further traps some of these young
Income sup­
•
Teenage
March 1994
ing is an emotive issue. It is of the
utmost importance, however, that
those who arc planning services or
devising policy arc committed to
solutions based on well researched
and documented information.
page 4
, CM
Youth Worker Training Developrnents
In the January 1993 edition of 'Irish
holistic approach to the personal and
YouthWork Scene' we included an ar­
vocational
ticle
people who are disad vantaged.
outlining
the
new
Diploma
Practical Youth Work & Training.
in
On
December 6, 1993 the National Youth
Federation broke new ground in con­
ferring seventeen Irish youth workers/
trainers with the professionally recog­
nised Diploma awarded by the NYF
and City and Guilds (NVQ Level 4 in
Training
and
Development).
The
Awards were presented by Ms. Mary
O'Rourke TD, Minister for Labour Af­
fairs at the Department of Enterprise
and
Employment.
The
participants
came from Youthreach and Commun­
3
development
learning
participants
where
reflected
on
by
the
their
prior
•
The NYF will become a recognised
knowledge and experiences and were
centre
introduced to new models, theories and
Training and Development Awards.
standards which they then applied to
In this capacity, it can offer direct
4
This principle of active integration
was
supported
through
assignments, coaching by the tutors
and
assistance from
from Kerry, Limerick and Clare Youth
5
the
and
Guilds
tion of NVQ accreditation:
•
I dentifying organisational
mentors within
•
learning
needs
of
Designing and planning learning
programmes
•
youth
Designing and adapting training
materials
Materials
many outcomes from the NYF Euro­
•
were developed to support its delivery
Evaluating training programmes
form project. From both the forma tive
and to promote an integrated approach
•
Designing
and summative evaluations, feedback
to learning.
has been excellent, both from people in­
6
volved internally and externally.
A
thorough evaluation report is presently
being collated.
workers and youth trainers.
Training
and Development needs
A new curriculum was designed to
meet
City
in the following moduleswith an op­
of learning into the participants' work
practices
offering
training or coaching to organisations
their work.
their organi sations.
The day was a culmination of the
young
The programme was centred on
action
ity Training Workshops in Dublin and
rvices.
of
•
Assessments
based.
Participants
their
work
gradually
portfolios
This intensive in-service training
programme had many key distinguish­
ing features.
1
The
progra mme
offered
a
which
competencies
in
Co-ordinating and evaluating the
collected
practices
compiled
implementing
effectiveness of contributors
competence­
knowledge and performance evidence
from
t<ey Features
were
and
assessment systems
•
port
individual
displayed
their
training
and
The NYF can offer induction training
and provide back-up training sup­
and
materials
to
organisations
which wish to run their own staff
development
programmes
Future Developments
•
to Youth Work/Training Agencies
for staff development in the follow­
The NYF entered this project with
workers and trainers through intensive
a view to maximising the multiplier ef­
ing modules:
in-service training.
fect. We are now in a posi tion to play
•
Helping and support skills
the leading role in the training of youth
•
Leadership skills
workers and trainers.
•
Dealing with conflict
•
Assertiveness training
2
The
qualification
fundamental
to
principle
was
at the programme would promote a
the
Training materials are also available
youth
recognised
in
above modules.
development.
This will be de­
veloped through the following:
•
•
Report writing skills
•
Time management
The NYF is actively liaising with
other national awarding bodies with
a view to securing further recogni­
tion for the Diploma in Practical
Youth Work & Training.
•
The NYF will publish 'The Effective
Youth Worker/Youth Training Ser­
ies" a resource for tutors of Youth
Workers
and.
tailor-made
Trainers
user
including
friendly
session
plans and support materials.
modules
include:
'Planning
The
your
Training', 'Presenting your Training',
'Assessment',
Training'.
Pictured at the Presentation of D iplomas were [L-R] Sheila Counihan, Helen Ross, Minister for Labour Affairs at
the Dept. of Enterprise & Employment Ms. Mary O'Rourke TD, Mary Mc Elligott (Mentor) and Siobhan Mc Grory.
Irish YouthWork Scene
March
1994
page
5
'Evaluatil")g
your
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Liam Kirwan tells Irish YouthWork Scene about the
innovative Community Training Workshop in Ennis.
Background
This workshop is unique in that
it is a structured attempt at using
music as a medium for learning in
our
Community
Training
Work­
shop in Ennis. The original idea for
this learning strategy was initiated
by a Danish model and pre-empted
by the fact that a group of our
trainees spent three weeks (during
1993) in a production school in
Denmark.
While
working
and
training in many skills areas they
were
also
involved
workshop.
in
a
music
They were really ex­
with some learning difficulties and
ent types is also essential.
also some interest in music.
workshop embraces the whole idea
hances, enriches and broadens their
these
trainees who
Some of
travelled
are
very keen to be involved in this
idea at our workshop in Ennis.
In March 1993 I visited Danish
Production Schools where I made
some formal contacts with a music
workshop leader, Lars Hensen in
Randers.
Lars says "music can be
the best 'tool' for learning, demand­
ing great discipline from the young
people to aspire to".
of experiential learning by doing.
creative method for young people
Outcomes/Objectives
to express themselves in a way that
will improve other areas and as­
Because of a
pects of their lives.
wide range of personal problems
encountered
trainees,
by
their
these
need
young
for
self-ex­
pression is a 'must' and the medium
of music acts as a catalyst for future
learning.
The outcomes of all these ideas
are to improve the
trainee's ap­
proach to learning.
Having been
exposed to the many tasks involve
aim
would
be
to
improve self­
esteem, self-confidence and become
responsible for their own decisions
Task Analysis
The basic tasks trainees are ex­
Structure of Music
posed to include learning music by
note
or
by
number.
They
Workshop
go
through the process of making an
instrument.
They learn a beat and
learn about the elements of music
and dynamics that are needed to
put a band together.
The trainees
get an understanding of different
instruments
by
seeing,
touching,
playing, making and even pricing
them.
Listening to music of differ-
Over the past 8 months the
Music Workshop has gone through
various
changes for various rea­
sons. Initially we designed and ran
a six week programme and having
evaluated this, we went ahead and
are
continuing
the
programme.
This. was mainly due to the enor-
This visit was part of a Diploma
in Practical Youth Work which I un­
dertook and on which I developed
many useful skills including train­
ing management, programme de­
sign and planning, quality services,
co-ordination, resourcing
and evaluation.
projects
All of this helped
translate an idea into a structured
programme.
In
developing
the
Music Workshop I thought it would
add a little more flavour, colour,
excitement and offer something dif­
ferent to our trainees.
Behavioural
The idea of a music workshop
is geared towards young people
�.
�
in the music workshop the mai
in life.
cited and totally dedicated to this
gral and well established part of the
The
learning experience. It is a new and
workshop, which itself was an inte­
Danish training system.
It en­
Members of the Singing Group ECW: Carron Moloney, Kelly-Ann Dobbin, Noreen McNamara,
Sharon Pender and Rose Mc Guane
Irish YouthWork Scene
.
March 1994
•
page 6
Comments
When I came to the Ennis Youth
Centre first, I didn't believe there was a
foundation stone to base on a Music
Workshop.
After the time I have been
here I have changed my mind.
I found
a big interest among the young people.
It is time to give them the chance to im­
prove their own individualities, through
music and I hope the time will be given
to us to work on this and other pro­
grammes in the future.
Stefan (Instructor)
I personally believe music is one of
the greatest things in life.
The Band of '94: Jamie Clune, Peter Nihill, Finbar Sheridan , Kenneth Molloy and Liam Lyons
mously
high
interest
level
of
trainees. Because of the continuous
formed
intake of trainees to the programme
performed
changes
events)
Greater
inevitably
demands
were
made
made.
by
has to come from.
group music (a band has been
•
and
they
have
at
youth
service
It is an international
language and everybody is able to do
some of its huge varieties.
There is
nothing else that can touch you as deep
as music in any way.
One does not
play music, one lives it!
the
trainees e.g. a wider variety of in­
There is no
age limit, no certain background one
Antje (Music Instructor)
The workshop focuses on learn­
strument learning was requested.
ing music and making instruments.
Also modifications were made be­
Trainers
cause of tutor availability. The pro­
drum sticks, xylophone, chimes in­
guitar since March 1993. I feel I have a
granlme had to be designed around
strument, bongos, triangle, simple
disadvantage in learning because my
a shoe-string budget i.e. voluntary
flute, stands and drum stand.
have
made
and
used:
ing of resources including paper,
pooling of facilities (rooms to work
in) and outside work time for plan­
ning meetings. At one stage we de­
cided to ask the trainees for 50p per
lesson in order to pay for some
minor expenses (such as entry to a
music competition).
Having
gone
through
many
changes the basic elements to the
workshop include:
a)
Music
Workshop
Steering
Group - volunteer musicians who
design and run the programme and
b) The trainees taking part in
the following:
•
learning to play instruments
through one-to-one and group
tuition
•
group singing
music
and
history of same
quality
instrument
including
and
making
piano
restoration
creative
rhythm
instruments
are
trainees
the
in
upholstery
and
made
by
wood work,
metal
work
projects
•
now
needs
some new energy put into it, in the
form of manpower, facilities, re­
But the programme helps for any­
thing from tin-whistle to keyboards and
drums. Also singing is taking a big part
in it.
mote more growth in order to lead
who work here will appreciate it.
this new and innovative piece of
work into maturity and into the fu­
ture.
I think the greatest thing about
I like
it.
A great idea and hopefully many
I am
in a band at the moment in the music
workshop and we all have picked up
what we play.
We all get on with each
other and it should stay that way.
Peter Nihill (16 years - trainee)
the new music programme is that
of the response to it by the young
The part
I like most about the
This has been
music programme is playing the drums.
the biggest 'driver' to the steering
At the start there was no drum instruc­
group to continue ploughing on
tor, but now we have a drum instructor.
His name is Dave Byrt.
and this will be hopefully the driv­
ing force in the future of the pro­
gramme.
terested in playing the drums.
Brendan Coughlan (16 years trainee)
young people do not have to be
good or great musicians to partici­
We make our own instruments, eg
pate and learn something or create
something.
tractive
drums,
This makes for an at­
ingredient
in
the
I hope to have
more classes with him as I am very in­
pro­
gramme. The music is just another
xylophones,
nineteen
people
in
gramme.
We
also
etc.
the
There are
music
have
our
pro­
own
'group/band' which consists of Brendy
step, just another key that may
(drums),
open the door to their learning pro­
(singing), and myself on keyboard.
gramme at the Ennis Youth Centre
like the music lessons because I think it
I rish YouthWork Scene
March 1994
Peter,
(guitar),
Jamie
I
is a lot of fun.
John Sherlock (17 years - trainee)
centre in Ireland.
�
I practice my music at home
sources and limited finance, to pro­
people themselves.
the
music from Metallica and intend to learn
(C.T.W.) or at any other education
outside musical activities
started playing
and sometimes in the centre.
It is an important factor that the
understanding
•
programme
have
heavy metal music does not suit the
Where do we go from here?
The
and
teachers.
tutors, voluntary committee, borro­
wing/lending of instruments, pool­
I joined the centre in September
1992
page
7
�
Charles Handy
· ji\R·• g ;.• . •:·• : .,: • •:. : :·:•·: • :··
·F E•'• �.:i �!• l
.
.
JO
..
Thank you tor taking the time to speak
to the voluntary sector.
CH
Not at all. I sometimes regret that my
The future of the Youth Service
Charles Handy's latest book The Empty Raincoat: Making Sense of the
Future (Hutchinson, UK£12.99)
-
is a wide ranging analysis of changes in
contemporary society and stimulating suggestions about how we should
respond. When we discovered that one of the suggestions was a new role
for the youth service, 'Irish YouthWork Scene' arranged an interview with
books seem to end up mainly on the business
Handy in the course of a recent visit to Dublin. John Dunne reports.
shelves when often the themes they are
addressing are much wider than that.
beginning to by-pass the school system. We
JO
need to be ready to manage this
In your latest book "The Empty
Raincoat" you suggest that the youth
service should "take over" where formal
schooling leaves oft. What sort of youth
service do you have in mind when you say
this?
CH
teachers for example. Many might ultimately
become involved in a "youth service" but the
systems and institutions themselves will not be
able to change enough. I speak in the book of
the "nouns and verbs" of education. Traditional
I am thinking in terms of non-formal
educational opportunities provided by
volunteers - in particular those in the "third
age·, many of whom have greater leisure time
than ever before and a genuine desire to give
something back to society.
JO
transformation. There will be a need to retrain
schooling has addressed the nouns - reading,
writing and arithmetic. Increasingly society will
place a premium on the verbs conceptualising, coordinating and consolidating
- and these are not things which can be taught
in a conventional education system.
So what would be the division of
regarded as legitimate educationally and which
are regulated and formally counted or
accredited towards their total education.
JO
This links to another interesting
•
the criticism of
Yes. I use the example of a driving test.
cause great resentment amongst those who
failed "their one chance". And most people
what it can do best. I would see school as
would see that it was an unnecessary
remaining the responsible body for all young
restriction. One of my children passed her
people up to the age of 18 but that would not
driving test at seventeen, another at twenty five,
necessarily mean the young people remaining
but nobody believes that that has any relevance
in school. Instead schools could organise and
to the issue of their relative driving skills and
co-ordinate the development of portfolios by
behaviour now.
individual students. They would know where
students are and help them to find placements
Photo by Elizabeth Handy
and opportunities to develop their individual
Yes. Certainly the UK secondary school
be engaged in a variety of activities which are
we would probably have fewer and better
school should narrow down and concentrate on
CH
during the time between when they leave formal
"schooling• and their 18th birthday they should
drivers on the road. But such a system would
the changing world. I am suggesting that
to the extent that society will need it to.
responsibility of the school up to 18. Therefore
driving test on, say, their nineteenth birthday,
which they will need to equip themselves for
education is not going to be able to change
yard before eighteen they would be the
If people only had an opportunity to take the
young people the skills and experience of life
You say quite flatly that the formal
made more flexible to address their needs.
Whilst young people might have left the school
CH
The formal education system is never
going to be able to change enough to give
JO
long as possible. The system needs to be
age bonding in education.
and the youth service?
portfolios.
I am not saying that. Young people
argument in your book
responsibility between formal education
CH
CH
should remain within the education system as
JO
JO
You use the idea of paradoxes to
explore aspects of modern society. One of
these is what you term the paradox of
Your comment in the book that some
young people might be right to leave
school early since it is fai l ing them could
be read as a challenge to government
policy in Ireland. Do you think it is realistic
system is based upon the objective of passing
in a society with high unemployment to
on knowledge of various types. Education. is
encourage young people to leave school
more than this and, in its wider form, is already
when they want to?
Irish YouthWork Scene
March 1994
aging: "every generation perceives itself
as justifiably different from its
predecessor, but plans as if its successor
generation will be the same as them". You
say that this time it needs to be different.
What are the key changes you would hope
to see?
page 8
they are hungry but that they have no core
not only lifeless and ignorant but are also
at the age of 16 or 21 for a privileged few who
to the end of their lives". Could you
reluctant to offer or to hold any opinions at all.
were able to afford to continue into third level
elaborate on this?
CH
At the time I left school working life began
My concern is that we are increasingly living in
education. I believe that now serious work will
CH
not begin until age 25 or even 27. Real jobs
prefer that of "self-employed". I accept that
will simply be too precious to be given to
this may look rather semantic but in fact I
a society where people refuse to take
I don't like the term "unemployed" - I
responsibility for their actions, explaining
themselves instead by reference to their status
as victims of "circumstance" and a
younger, unqualified people. Accordingly up
believe words are very important. By
until the age of 27 young people will effectively
encouraging people to look for work customers
be a population seeking to accumulate
rather than a job I believe it has been made
JO
quasi-scientific determinism.
So how should society go about
professional or other qualifications - of which
respectable in England to be self-employed on
defining its moral norms?
they will need a lot - in a variety of ways.
the basis of compiling a "portfolio" of part-time
CH
Because it will be primarily an information
jobs/employments. The enabling of self
society information will have to be accessible to
respect in this way is extremely important. The
everybody. Thus there will have to be
label "unemploymenr· is, to my ear, too close to
It is very difficult to know exactly how
moral standards might be defined. Certainly
the legal system, government and the church
are all relevant institutions in terms of
alternatives to endless post-graduate courses.
"unemployable''. And also whilst we must
There will have to be opportunities for young
ensure the opportunity for self-respect amongst
contributing to the debate. They would all have
something to say, presumably different things
people to add to their portfolio
and then individuals could make up
collection. New forms of
their m inds. The core value that we
apprenticeship will have to be
need to acknowledge in our society
reated and opportunities will have
is that there is such a thing as
o exist for young people to acquire
morality.
bits and pieces of work in the
Consider where young people learn
context of a developmental
their values. I n school they simply
framework and strategy.
deal with their peer group and
Secondly our attitude to education
adults as authority figures. In such
will need to change. We will need
a situation it is not that they not
to enhance our qualifications and
surprisingly source many of their
learning right throughout our
moral values from their peer group
working lives. That is why I
or that pop stars and TV idols
suggest the concept of a double
exercise enormous moral influence
bond/double voucher system. This
based simply Qn lh<7 la�t that JtJ�y
would represent a commitment
represent the only figureheads of
from government which would allow
choice for a large number of young
people at any stage in their working
people. I see the youth service as
lives to take "time out" for personal
offering them a much better option -
development for, say, two years. It
the opportunity to select from
ould require financial resources
respected adults of choice who
but I would expect the take up to be
could then become an additional
slow in the initial stage and on that
source of learning albout moral
basis believe it would be
values.
financable. We need to move away
Photo by Elizabeth Handy
from being a "one chance" society.
Intelligence and information is a
means of access to empowerment in this
society and therefore there is a moral duty to
ensure that all our citizens have access to it. In
the past, the assumption was that if you joined
an organisation it would assume responsibility
for "upgrading you" over your working life. This
no longer obtains and we need to put some
alternative opportunity for lifetime improvement
into place.
JO
You say in the book that "the problem
for the unemployed is not so much that
the unemployed we must locate the
responsibility back on them where it has to be.
Society's role should be to help the
unemployed address their situation but that it is
not the same as saying that it has direct
responsibility for changing the situation.
JO
T h is would seem to link with your
criticism of a growing "amorality" in
contemporary society.
CH
JO
Are you optimistic or
pessimistic for the future?
CH
In the short-term I am worried. There is
so much we have to do and to change if we are
going to equip our young people for the very
different world which is emerging, one in which
applied intelligence is the key and in which we
each have to take more responsibility for our
own futures. In the long-run however, I have
great faith in the capacity of the human spirit to
rise to the occasion, once they realise that that
I refer in the book to Alan Bloom's "The
is what they have to do. I hope that my book
Closing of the American Mind" in which he
will make more people realise that now is the
observes that American college students are
time.
Irish Y o u t h W o r k Scene
March 1994
page 9
�
tral in impact". The paper also
THE GENTLE ART OF
offers valuable advice to volun­
LISTENING
tary agencies on negotiating and
COUNSELLING SKILLS
drawing up contracts and
FOR VOLUNTEERS
suggests a local code of good
By Janet K.Ford & Philippa Merriman
•
practice on the involvement of
volunteers in a contractual envi­
Written for anyone who works,
ronment.
or may be thinking of working as
a volunteer counsellor or befrien­
der. Examines what is involved
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
CHILD ABUSE
in this type of voluntary work
and covers a range of practical
and emotional issues that may
LEAVING HOME
By Focus Point
•
WORKING WITH SEXUALLY
arise such as recognising your
ABUSED BOYS:
own emotional needs and limita­
tions,
Teaching pack on the issues of
establishing
AN INTRODUCTION FOR
appropriate
relationships with clients, work­
being out-of-home and leaving
PRACTITIONERS
ing with professionals and devel­
home for Second Level Students,
By Jim Christopherson et al
oping listening skills.
Youth Groups and Community
Resulting from a set of dis­
•
Workshop Participants. Compre­
cussions by a working party set
hensively compiled, the pack
uses a variety of methods such as
up to consider issues relating to
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
the sexual abuse of boys, it was
groupwork, brainstorming, role
decided to produce this book as
play, case studies, project work,
MANAGING VOLUNTEERS
photographs and exercises to
the issues involved in homeless­
the problem differed from that of
By Volunteer Centre UK
raise awareness and stimulate
discussion by young people on
it became clear that the focus of
•
similar work with abused girls
which tended to focus on incest
A complete handbook for anyone
and intrafamilial sexual abuse.
responsible for managing volun­
ness.
This book looks at issues such as
teers. Looks at policy, recruit­
the under-reporting of sexual
ment, selection, support, training,
abuse of boys, comparisons with
groupwork and management is­
the sexual abuse of girls, man­
sues. The pack has been tested in
VOLUNTEERING
agement of adolescent sexual be­
two pilot groups, one a study
rings, group therapy and direct
organisers who analysed each
SOCIETY­
training for working with sexual­
chapter against their own experi­
ly abused boys.
ence, the second was a training
PRINCIPLES & PRACTICE
group who tried and tested the
By Rodney Hedley and Justin Davis Smith
•
haviour in residential care, sex
group of experienced volunteer
VOLUNTEERING AND
training elements within each
Volunteering has achieved a pro­
CHILDREN AND YOUNG
chapter. This handbook includes
file more prominent than ever be­
modifications recommended as a
fore. This creates higher
PEOPLE AS ABUSERS:
result of both pilot groups find­
expectations of volunteers and
AN AGENDA FOR ACTION
ings.
voluntary agencies by the state
By Dr Arnon Bentovim
and the public, while also creat­
•
ing an identity crisis and increas­
By Giles Darvill
siders the future looking at gov­
teers and the unions and com­
munity groups, the varying roles
of volunteers, and incorporates a
detailed analysis of the research
evidence available on the extent
and range of volunteering in Brit­
ain today.
perience and respond to in­
VOLUNTEERS
looks at these issues and con­
the relationships between volun­
awareness, share practice and ex­
CONTRACTS ON
agencies concerned. This book
ernment policy on volunteering,
for a seminar designed to raise
THE IMPACT OF
ing recruitment problems for the
•
palatable fact, the issues involved
teers as service providers,
and at the disturbing evidence of
advocates and managers in the
how early many adult abusers
voluntary, statutory and private
start abusing and the number of
sectors. It focuses on both the
abused children/young people
positive and negative effects of
that begin abusing other children.
contracts and concludes that "the
contract is an only an administra­
tive device which is mostly neu-
March 1994
informed sources about the ap­
abuse. The papers look at this un­
tions of contracting for volun­
-
creased concern from many
parent rise in this type of sexual
This paper examines the implica­
Irish Y outhWo r k Scene
Collection of papers produced
pa g e 1 0
_
•
Collection of papers produced by
the National Children's Bureau at
JUVENILE JUSTICE
C H ILDREN AND AIDS
a national conference on solvent
sniffing in 1 990. Looks at areas
YOUNG PEOPLE AND
CRIME REDUCTION
A CAUSE FOR CONCERN
abuse, the role of educati on,
By Welsh Home Office I NACRO
•
HIV, AIDS AND CHILDREN:
such as discovering solvent
By Naomi Honigsbaum
community approaches to sol­
vent abuse, group work with
Report of a conference held in
Wales in 1 989 aimed at highlight­
Examines the range, quality and
•
abusers, current trends and the
adequacy of services currently
training needs of professionals.
ing a wide range of social crime
provided for children with HIV
and AIDS in Britain and offers
prevention initiatives being de­
veloped in England and Wales.
recommendations on the extra
Looks at a range of voluntary,
provision needed for the future
BEH AVIOU RAL DIF FICULTIES
community, and neighbourhood
as pa tterns of infection and
based initiatives whose method­
prevalence change. Should be of
WORKING WITH TRAINEES
ologies centre on consultation,
particular relevance to anyone
WITH BEHAVIOURAL
participation and partnership
working in this area in Ireland
DIFFICULTIES
with young people.
considering the dearth of special­
By NACRO
•
THE REAL ALTERNATIVE:
children affected by HIV I AIDS.
Resource pack for trainers who
provide foundation level training
STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE
in youth training and employ­
COMMUNITY BASED
ment training who work with
PENALTIES
By NACRO
•
ist services available here for
trainees who have behavioural
WORKING WITH YOUNG
difficulties. The pack contains a
WOMEN
comprehensive manual with ac­
Findings of a one-year project
SUGAR AND SPICE
companying video and uses
undertaken by NACRO to exam­
By Women's Participation Working Group,
methods such as brain-storming,
ine the purpose and potential of
NYCI
groupwork, role play and case
the various community based
studies to encourage and enable
non-custodial sanctions available
Resource book for working with
•
trainees with behavioural diffi­
to the courts, their relationship to
young women in a non-sexist
culties to fulfil their potential
each other and the relationship
framework produced by and in
during training.
between community based and
consultation with youth workers.
It covers ten topics relevant to
custodial sanctions.
MAKING ASSESSMENT
practical exercises and a resource
and each section includes back­
ground information for leaders,
LITERACY
list for further information.
WORK
IDEAS FOR TRAINING IN
By Mary Jane Drummond et al
ADULT LITERACY WORK
•
By NALA
•
CH I LD REN ' S LEARNI NG
young women in Ireland today
Resource pack that looks at the
values and principles involved in
Complete training manual that
assessing young children's learn­
looks at the organisation and
ing and how to put them into
planning involved in implement­
practice. Produced as the result
ing a Ii teracy programme, the
of a three year project supported
provision of both initial and on­
by the Department of Education
going training courses and the
(Britain) and tried and tested by
available o n loan from the Irish Youth Work Centre,
evaluation of these courses.
child educators in a variety of
the official sales agent in the Republic of Ireland for
settings, it is based on the prem­
ise that assessment based on ob­
SOLVENT AB USE
servation and reflection can be
evaluate and hence enrich the
PEOPLE
Edited by Richard Ives
�
work, health education, art education, social and
political education, leaving home, counselling, club
and working with girls and young women. Further
education.
SNIFFING BY YOUNG
The wide range of topics covered by the materials
selected for sale include youth service management
work, games and simulations, youth work training
curriculum offered in early
TACKLING SOLVENT
Youth Clubs U K and the National Youth Agency.
policy and curriculum ,:detached and rural youth
used for the children's benefi t to
SOLUBLE PROBLEMS:
Many of these titles and others on related topics are
information :
Irish YouthWo rk Centre
1
National Youth Federation
20 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin 1 .
Irish Y o u thW or k Scene
-
March 1994
-
page 1 1
S I X I L E B R I D G E TA K E T H E L E A D
Sixmilebrido-e
Youth
Oub
have scoopea Ers
rize once
again at the national final of
Tops of the Clubs in Premier
Hall, Thurles recently
Their show titled "Stone Age
to Rock Age" was bursting with
colour and non-stop dancing,
singing, comedy and music.
The two other finalists, Clo­
Club from Ferns
nard Youth
and
Tipperary
Town
Youth
also won major prizes.
The creativity award went to·
Clonard for their futuristic set
Club
d
costumes
in
their
show
called "The Living Museum of His­
tory".
The adjudicators award
was given to Aidan Tobin from
Tipperary Town for his part in
the show " Uptown Girl", a mod­
ern day Romeo and Juliet story.
Dancers
from
Northside
Link Youth Club and No rma
Lowney from Caherdavin Youth_
Club (both winners at Variety
Show '93 in group dance and
solo singing) were guest per­
Ray
formers for the .evening.
Darcy from The Den was the
very popular MC for the evin­
ing.
Well done to all involved in
ops of the Clubs 1 994.
READERS
If you have news , sto ries,
issues of concern ,
photographs o r general
information o n activities or
p rojects t hat you wou ld l ike
featured i n
Irish Youth Work Scene
p lease write to:
Avril Soper,
National Youth Federation,
Top Photo: RTE's Ray Darcy, Mary 0 Halloran cast m em ber from the winning club
20 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin 1
Sixmilebridge, His Grace Derm o! Clifford Arch Bishop of Cashel & Emly and Dan Boyle;
Middle: Cast members from Clonard Youth .Club who won the Creativity Award ;
Bottom: Cast members from Tipperary Town Youth Club with Aidan Tobin (3rd from left)
Tel : (01 ) 8729933
Fax: (01 ) 87241 83
winner of the Adjudicators Award.
�
I r i s h Y o ut hW or k Scene
-
March 1994
-
p a g ,e 1 5
1 1 1111111
DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION NATIONAL
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
GOVERNMENT PROVISION
PLAN JOB CREATION
FOR THE HOMELESS
LOTTERY ALLOCATION
TARGETS
Deputy Gilmore asked the Minister
for
Education
the
total
amount
of
money made available to her Depart­
ment from the proceeds of the national
lottery since 1 January, 1993: and the
uses to which this money had been put.
I n response Minister Bhreathnach sup­
plied the estimated expenditure in this
regard in table form (see table
1 ).
Deputy
what steps, if any, he was taking to deal
extent he expected to create jobs to
cater for the needs of the 382,000 people
available for work but currently either
unemployed, on pre-retirement social
and
schemes.
In
response
Minister
2.1
construction and that these jobs were
b) Art and Culture
5.6
23. 1
non-agricultural job growth of between
into
a
•
line
with
the
Pro­
The expansion of the local authority build­
ing programme to 3,500 "starts" and the
programme to benefit the homeless as well
as other categories of persons in need of
net
70,000 and 1 00,000 depending on the
30. 1
in
gramme for a Partnership Government:
commitment to a long term house building
a) Irish Language
translate
In response the
E nvironment Deputy Stagg outlined the
200,000 jobs in industry,
services, natural resource sectors and
to
homelessness.
Government
£ m illion
expected
with
Minister for State a t the Department of
following measures being taken by the
employment schemes or FAS courses
create about
Total
the
for Enterprise and Employment to what
opment Plan 1994-1999 was expected to
�Youth and Sport
asked
Minister for the Environment to outline
Quinn stated that the National Devel­
TABLE 1
M .McDowell
Deputy Durkan asked the Minister
housing;
•
The capital funding of voluntary bodies
providing housing accommodation was
level of wage competitiveness improve­
increased from £ 1 1 million in 1992 to £12.5
ment and the strength of the growth in
million in 1 993. As part of this increase a
the world economy.
new 107 unit development for homeless
persons being provided by the Salvation
Army at Granby Court, Dublin would
CHILD CARE ACT PROVISION FOR YOUNG HOMELESS
Deputy O'Donnell asked the Min­
•
egy to deal with the extent of youth
in
the
Eastern
Health
Board area as revealed in the EHB's re­
port "Young People out of Home" and
to make a statement on the matter in
Additional funding for Eccles Street hostel
for
homeless
children. As a result of this, extra fund­
ing was made available to the health
boards in 1991 and 1992 resulting in the
provision of 40 extra hostel and resi­
dential places in Dublin and
tional
places
outside
30 addi­
Dublin.
He
pointed to the annou11cement earlier in
the year by the Government commit­
ting them to implementing the Child
Care Act over a three year period, mak­
ing an addi tional
£5 million available to
begin this process. The Minister then
outlined the following initiatives that
he had approved as part of a package
of new developments for the health
voiuntary body taking over the operation
Funding for accommodation for adoles­
Quay.
ister Howlin stated that Section 5 of the
accommodation
man would continue in operation with a
Glasnevin.
•
Outside
of
the
Eastern
of the facility and 90% of the net cost in­
volved would be fw1ded by the Depart­
ment of the Environment.
Health
Board area new service developments
•
The level of recoupment to local author­
ities for expenditure incurred by them
would include the provision of a grant
of
The emergency accommodation being pro­
vided by the Army at Lower- Grangegor­
Funding for a boys' hostel at Botanic Road,
Child Care Act, 1990. In response Min­
vide
tion as a hostel for the homeless;
•
to increase their places from 12 to 14.
•
cent girls at the Salvation Army, Eden
tory duty on the health boards to pro­
been granted £600,000 to secure its reten­
moda tion for d ifficult to place youngsters.
•
view of his responsibilities under the
Child Care Act, 1991 imposed a statu­
their existing hostel at York House had
Additional funding for Focus Poi.nt's "Off
the Streets" project which provides accom­
ister for Health his response and strat­
homelessness
come into operation in early 1 994, while
under section 10 of the Housing Act 1 988
£1 00,000 towards the development
for
on accommodating homeless persons had
Homeless Girls in Cork and the devel­
been increased from 80% to 90% and the
of
Termon
Residential
Centre
opment of a new residential service for
provision to meet this recoupment by the
homeless children and abused spouses
Government
in Castlebar, Co.Mayo. In conclusion
£674,000 in 1 992 to £1 million in 1 993;
the Minister stated that the 1994 Esti­
mates included a provision of
•
£15 mil­
meet the full year costs of the various
outside
the
normal
service was now available up to 1 .00 a.m.
from Monday to Fridays and from 10.00
would
a.m. to 1 .00 a . m . on Saturdays and Sun-
£1 0 million in 1994.
da ys, with 90% of the cost of the service to
be funded by the Government.
boards;
Irish YouthWork Scene
M a r c h 1994
opening
had recently been introduced. A freephone
finance a further round of major new
amount to
from
hours of the EHB's Homeless Persons Unit
initiatives launched this year and also
that
increased
An extended referral service for homeless
modation
during the coming year, that would
developments
been
persons in the Dublin area seeking accom­
lion to implement the Child Care Act
service
had
page 1 2
Put yo u r fi n g e r on the P U LS E
I VA\1[2 11 IElf>V
�IH �()l\V' '14-
Moving statues, a creative d rama
s ketch o n a youn g man with AIDS,
s i n g e rs, d a n ce rs and musicians all par­
ticipated i n what was the first final of
Variety S how - the new National Youth
Federation national ta lent competition.
This was the first year that Variety
S h ow was organ ised on a national level
and the high sta n d a rd and n u mb e r of
Twenty five you n g people travelled to Galway recently for the th ird phase of
the new NYF peer e d u cation tra i n i n g programme 'Feel the P U LSE'.
e ntries e n s u red that this competition is
Th e p ro­
h e re to stay.
g ramme is based on the d evelopment education activity resou rce manual
Well k n own RTE p e rsonality and
PU LSE, prod uced by the Fed.
Cha irperson of Bord na Gaeilge, M i­
The principle aim of the programme is to prepare participants to work with
cheal
O' M u i rchearta i g h ,
commended
oth e r you n g people in t h e i r clu b or g ro u p i n promoti ng aware ness of deve lopment
the man y youth clubs a n d g roups that
issues a n d i n p l a n n i n g projects.
participated in the va rious reg ional fi­
It is anticipated that young people w h o have
nals and t h e national s e m i finals earl i e r
completed the tra i n i n g will, in th e long term, s u p p o rt othe r clubs in their region to
this year.
u n dertake projects.
It was a d o uble success o n the
'Feel t h e PULSE' covers a ran g e of issues incl u d i n g images a n d ideas about
n i g ht for Ferns Youth C l u b flautist Ca­
people and the world, food a n d the e n vironment, discri mination and poverty. Th e
therine McDonald, who won the Solo
tra i n i n g m od u l e s are a ctivity-based a n d a h i g h level of participation is req u ired.
I n strumenta l section a n d later joined
The prog ramme has been designed a n d facilitated by Tom Larken, a develop­
h e r cl u b colleag ues to scoop the G ro u p
me nt e d u cation con s u ltan t and Ken Keog h, NYF staff.
I n strumental award.
Reaction from the you n g people participating i n the programme (from Ke rry,
Aine Cro n i n of Moyva n e in Kerry
Clare, umencl\, Don e g al a n d Casllel a n d Emly) llas b e e n very positive a n d the
won the Best l rish Lan g uage Act (Bord
na Gaeilge Trophy) while Jackie O'Ma­
NYF plans to orga nise a second progra mme between September and Dece mber.
hony took t h e Best Originaf ftem for h i s
Drama
Troca i re 24-Ho u r Fast for the Third World
Troca ire have passed
The
on the
There are many other programmes
were:
message that last year's 24-Hour
i n operation all over the third world
•
Lenten Fast was a g reat success. It
including N igeria and B o l ivia.
raised £40,000 which was u s ed to
This
help feed, clothe a n d hou se some
same.
of the world's poorest people.
Wo rld .
This money also went towards
years
challenge
the
•
•
cou ld
is
organise
might consider something
different such as a sponsored si­
w h i c h Trocaire operates i n the p rov­
lence. The choice is you rs.
Somalia.
Gedo
in
South-West
The prog ram me involves
a
centre for details o r write to:
Trocai re,
tu re and irragation i n the su rrou nd­
1 69 B ooterstown Avenue,
ing v i l lages.
B lackrock,
•
Variety
Group
Singing
-
'94
winners
Ballyduff
Youth
Drama - Tore Youth C l u b , Kerry
Solo
Singing
-
Cah e rdavin
Youth
Dance - N orthside Link Youth Club,
Solo
I n stru mental
-
Ferns
Youth
•
Grou p I n stru me ntal - Ferns Youth
C l u b , Wexford
•
Comic S ketch - Ba llydesmond Youth
C l u b , Kerry
•
Duais na Gae i l g e - M oyvan e Youth
C l u b , Kerry
Co. D u b l i n
•
Best O rig i n a l Item - Tore Youth Club,
Kerry ( Drama)
I ri s h Y o u thWork Scene
S h ow
C l u b , Wexfora.
benefits from the money you raise.
ij
Youth
Limeri ck
little
Try you r local youth information
the reco nstruction of healt h , ag ricul­
This is just o n e example of who
•
24-hour hou r fast in you r club or you
opment projects such as the o n e
of
Tore
C l u b , Limerick
a
the continuation of long-term devel­
ince
for
C l u b , Kerry
G ive one d ay for the Th i rd
You
composition
Club.
M a r c h 1994
page 1 3
M E A T H Y O U T H L E A D E R S TA K E TO T H E H I L L S
Thirty voluntary youth leaders representing
eight
youth
clubs
in
the
Meath
Youth
Federation took part i n an exciting weekend
training program me at Carlingford Adventure
Centre,
Co.
Louth
recently.
The
leaders
represented clubs from Drumcondrath, Girley,
Navan , Dunboyn, Kildalkey, Skryne, Laytown
and Bettystown.
The training programme included a five
hour treak across the Cooley M o untains which
was a great ice-breaker or maybe back breaker!!
Workshops during the weekend included
drugs and alcohol awareness and creative arts.
The workshops were geared to train the leaders
to reproduce similar type workshops in their own
commun ity setting.
Overall the weekend was very successful
and leaders were able to return to their clubs
with new ideas for programmes.
The Berkeley Travel Guides
Have you ever considered a 'back pack­
searchers are the ability to write well and to
ible, in keeping with the budget of the student or
ing' holiday? Well if the idea appeals to you
handle the 'back packer' lifestyle . As the stu­
young traveller.
the new Berkeley Travel G uide Series, pro­
dent body at Berkeley Campus renects a wide
The level of information contained in the
duced by students of the Un iversity of Califor­
range of cultures and m i norities the mix of re­
guides is quite impressive.
nia, could be essential reading for you.
searchers is, apparently, incredibly diverse.
formation on h ostels, their facilities, rates and
They
are aimed at the budget traveller who wishes to
He says the production team prides itself
spend time developing an insight into a country
on the fact that all the books are updated each
rather than just following the usual tourist trail .
year, unlike some other travel guides.
For example, in­
on low price quality 'eateries' (restaurants, etc.)
is really quite detailed.
While
Scott also stressed that researchers if
Five n e w books have just been added to
several research assignments involve 'breaking
they have experienced poor standards in faci­
the series, one of which covers Ire land and Brit­
new ground' there is a very definite policy of
lities, service or food, should report this.
ain. The editor, Scott McNeely, visited Dublin
providing up-to-date information to the reader.
guides, to put it m ildly, are quite blunt and re­
recently to promote the m .
Irish YouthWork
The
late experiences as they were.
Scene went along to meet him and to find out
And finally, the verdict on Ireland for the
more about the series which claims to "show
'back packer'. Well as with other books in the
you cheap ways to live - and live it up - on the
series this guide may make some rather opin­
road".
ionated · comments around society and culture
While the publications are funded by
with which one may be tempted to take issue,
Berkeley University and Fodors, a publishing
generally however this country is seen as offer­
company which also produces travel guides for
ing good quality facilities for the independent
the mainstream market, Scott stressed that the
traveller at competitive rates.
Berkeley Gu ides are u n ique i n the sense that
Ireland was the final stage of a whistle
they are researched and written by students for
stop tour of Europe for Scott McNeely.
the student/younger traveller.
This factor, he
former Trinity College student he was no
feels, tailors the information provided specifi­
stranger to Dublin and was looking forward to
cally for this category of traveller.
seeing some old friends and having some dark
Editorial control is with the students and
A
Irish refreshments before returning to the sunny
esse ntially the enterprise is fully autonomous.
beaches of California.
Indeed all of the processes involved i n the
The Berkeley Travel Guides are available
publications, production, printing and marketing
from most leading book shops and retail at
are carried out by the Berkeley research team.
To-date it's an arrangement that appears to
have worked well.
Scott outlined the method by which the
books are researched. Each year 50 students
are recruited.
Basic qualities sought from re-
Students would normally spend six to
eight weeks travelling through a country prepar­
ing their information.
The specific brief is to
travel not just the highways but also the by­
ways, meet the locals, find out what they do for
fu n , where they go to eat, play or just 'hang
£9.99 each. The full range of g u ides in the
series are: Eastern Europe, Mexico, California,
Pacific North West and Alaska. New editions:
France, G reat Britain & Ireland, Germany, Cen­
tral America and San Francisco.
out' ! All of this to be done as cheaply as poss-
I r i s h Y o u t h W o r k Scene
M a rch 1 9 94
p a g e 14