Tim Elgar discusses the importance of detached youth work in meeting young people where they are. Detached youth work involves observing an area to understand the context, preparing for engagement, making cold contact with groups, developing relationships, and responding to the needs of the area. This unpredictable nature allows for natural relationships to form between adults and youth. However, it requires workers to act appropriately and reflect on encounters. Guidelines are provided for safety, including always having two trained adults, checking in on safe returns home, pre-planning routes, debriefing, and assessing risks. A recommended reading on detached youth work is also provided.

1. Detached Youth Work
Tim Elgar
engaging young people where
they choose to meet

2. ‘The gospel must relate to the context we are in.
In a middle class environment this can,
acceptably, be more intellectual, more personal,
but in a different environment where injustice,
oppression, and poverty abound – gospel must
speak to all of this as well – we can’t just say
‘Turn to Jesus and everything will be fine’ – Pip
Wilson, Gutter Feelings

3. 1. Observation
1. Observation
2. Preparation
3. Cold Contact
4. Developing relationships
5. Responding to the needs of the area or
peer groups

4. The beauty of detached work is its
unpredictable nature and rawness.
Strangely, it provides the right environment
for natural relationships to occur between
supportive adults and young people.
The nature of detached youth work means you
will need to work very hard to do what is
appropriate and reflect on each encounter as it
happens.

5. Guidelines to doing this as safely as possible:
* Identification to be carried at all times, think about
how you will be perceived.
* Minimum of two competent adults (weigh up risk)
* Accountability – check in and confirm safely home
* Route pre-planned
* Debrief, record incidents and learn
* Ensure volunteers are trained and have done some
basic training
* Constant risk assessment – if it feels unsafe, walk
away
* Remain professional (particularly when joining in
football)

6. Recommended Reading –
Here be Dragons, Youth work and Mission off
the Map, By Richard and Lorimer Passmore
(FYT) 2014