A Genealogy of Youth Work: Translators

Abstract

Youth work was born around 150 years ago in the mid- to late-nineteenth century, yet one of its current languages is much newer, coming into being in the 1960s when youth work became a profession. This article suggests that the publication of The Albemarle Report translated youth work’s earlier theistic language into a secular tongue. It describes this translation, and goes on to suggest that, despite this significant change, many of youth work’s most precious attributes are only part of its discourse because of its Christian foundations.