Pathways to Impact - Playwork and Youth Work
Exploring Shared Ground: Aligning Playwork and Youth Work Practice in Wales
In March 2025, Alex Drury, Research Assistant in Youth Work attended an online BERA (British Educational Research Association) workshop on Playwork and Youth Work and the intersections between them. Following the discussion, Alex shared her research interests with a representative from Play Wales, which led to a commissioned research project.
Although Youth Work and Playwork are distinct professions, there is often an overlap in practice and in their underlying principles. Organisations may employ both Youth Workers and Playworkers, and some practitioners are qualified in both. At times, differences in approaches can create tension; Youth Workers may take a more structured approach, whilst Playworkers prioritise the play process, which often means being more ‘in the moment’. However, both groups share a respect for each other’s professional identities and a commitment to supporting children and young people.
The Research
The resulting report, ‘Shared Ground: Examining the Alignment of Playwork and Youth Work Practice in Wales’, was produced by Alex and Prof. Mandy Robbins, with support from Play Wales. Drawing on interviews across Welsh organisations, the study explored the benefits and challenges of aligning the two professions.
The research found clear benefits to collaboration. For example, Youth Work staff who completed Playwork training developed a greater understanding of older children’s play needs, and joint sessions supported practitioners’ shared learning and reflection. Yet, some challenges arose, for example, differences in professional philosophy and a lack of shared training. These philosophical distinctions sometimes created tension, but the research showed that alignment could work well if the goal was collaboration, not amalgamation.
From both her professional experience and the interviews, Alex observed that for children, what matters most is feeling safe and supported by a trusted adult, rather than understanding job titles. This reinforces the need for adults in both professions to manage collaboration sensitively in order to respond to children’s needs effectively.
Recommendations
Alex and Mandy recommend that strategic leaders:
- Develop a joint statement on the benefits of aligning Youth Work and Playwork
- Consider a shared working strategy to promote good practice
- Encourage training providers to include modules on each profession within the other’s qualifications (for example, a Playwork module in a Youth Work degree).
- Encourage training providers to develop additional training that specifically supports alignment in practice and shared understanding.
- Ensure collaboration between the new national body for Youth Work and the Playwork sector.
Next steps
To continue the conversation, Alex presented her findings with a workshop at the Play Wales Annual Conference in Cardiff, “Play Policy, Research, and Practice: Getting it Right for Children.” The event featured representatives from the Welsh Government, Dr David Dallimore and Professor Phillip Jaffé, Vice Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Alex’s workshop attracted strong interest and opened doors for further development, particularly around professional identity in Youth Work and Playwork. Alex is now exploring opportunities to work with both sectors to further the recommendations of the research.