Fostering young people’s creativity through youth work

A mixed method study that explores youth work’s distinctive creative potential

Study Update for Participants

Thank you to all our members who took part in this national research study on the relationship between youth work and creativity, two distinct yet interrelated domains of policy, practice, and research.

The study employed a mixed-methods design, with a total of 242 participants from 27 counties providing valuable experiences and perspectives. The quantitative component included two national online surveys, with 175 valid participants (117 youth workers and 58 young people). The qualitative component involved 67 participants across eleven ‘story circles’ (45 youth workers and 22 young people).

We’re delighted to announce that the study is now complete, and the key findings will be launched soon.

Key Insights

This research demonstrates youth work’s distinctive potential to foster creativity in young people. It reveals how youth work provides a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where young people are encouraged to explore, experiment, and take creative risks.

Creativity is a complex and multi-layered concept, represented through many models and frameworks. This study synthesised a wide range of perspectives to develop a cohesive new ‘Four Dimensions of Creativity’ framework, which recognises creativity’s dynamic, multi-scale nature, bridging both its individual and collective dimensions.

This framework highlights how the distinctive features of youth work—including non-formal education, voluntary participation, an emphasis on group work, and a focus on holistic personal and social development, along with core values such as equality, inclusion, and empowerment—play a vital role in fostering creativity.

Information on the Study

Saoirse Reynolds Conlon recently completed her doctoral research in the Department of Applied Social Studies at Maynooth University, where she is now employed full-time as a Lecturer in Community and Youth Work within the Department of Applied Social Studies. Her research was supported by the Irish Research Council’s Employment-Based Scholarship and included a partnership between the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), where she worked until January 2025 and Department of Applied Social Studies at Maynooth University. Supervised by Dr. Sinéad McMahon and Emeritus Professor Maurice Devlin, this research was approved by the Maynooth University Social Research Ethics Committee. The study was designed to contribute to the development of both policy and practice in youth work and creativity, bringing together academic research and applied insights from the field.

Research Aims

This study sought to uncover the distinctive characteristics of youth work that foster and enhance creative processes and outcomes. By identifying these key features, the research aimed to ensure that they are better recognised, supported by policy, and strengthened in practice, ultimately enriching the creative potential of youth work as a field.

To achieve this aim, the study will:

(i) Examine the distinctive elements of youth work, as experienced and understood by both young people and youth workers, shedding light on what makes it a distinctive space for personal and creative growth.

(ii) Explore the ways in which young people are encouraged and enabled to express themselves creatively within youth work settings, identifying the conditions and practices that nurture artistic and innovative expression.

(iii) Identify patterns in the relationship between the distinctive aspects of youth work (a) and the creative expression of young people (b), uncovering how one influences the other.

(iv) Capture and analyse the language, imagery, and metaphors used by young people, youth workers, and youth arts practitioners to articulate creative approaches in youth work, providing deeper insight into how creativity is understood and communicated.

(v) Inform and contribute to the development of youth work and youth arts policy at both the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) level and nationally, ensuring that creativity is at the heart of youth work strategies.

(vi) Generate meaningful findings and practical resources to support and enhance creative youth work and youth arts practice, equipping practitioners with tools and insights to foster a more vibrant, expressive, and innovative environment for young people.

Research questions

This research was guided by the following key questions:

(Main research question)

(1)          In what ways do the distinctive features of youth work (e.g. non-formality, voluntary participation, groupwork emphasis) relate to its potential to foster creativity in children and young people?

(Two subsidiary questions)

(2)          What lessons can be applied by youth workers in general to ensure that their practice with and for young people is more consciously and effectively creative?

(3)          What lessons can be applied by policy makers to develop better synergies between policy for creativity and for youth work?

By addressing these questions, this study aimed to provide valuable, research-backed insights that will strengthen creative youth work practices, influence policy decisions, and ultimately empower young people to explore, develop, and express their creativity in meaningful ways.

Study design

There were two parts within this study that involved participants:

  • Part 1 consisted of two online surveys with (a) youth workers/youth arts practitioners and (b) young people aged 18 to 24 years in Ireland.
  • Part 2 consisted of ‘story circles’ that took place in person and online.

Please read on for further information.

Part 1 of the Study- Online Surveys (completed)

As part of this national research project, two anonymous online surveys were conducted with:

  • Young people aged 18 to 24 years currently participating in youth work or youth arts settings
  • Youth workers and youth arts practitioners actively working with young people across Ireland

These surveys were live during the research phase and are now completed. Each took approximately 10–12 minutes to complete and explored key questions such as:

  • How do the distinctive features of youth work (e.g. non-formal education, voluntary participation, group work) relate to its potential to foster creativity?
  • What insights can youth workers apply to make their practice more consciously and effectively creative?
  • How can policy makers create stronger connections between youth work policy and creativity policy?

Before taking part, all participants were given access to an information sheet outlining:

  • The purpose of the study and ethics approval
  • What participation involved
  • How their information would be collected, stored, and anonymised
  • How results would be used
  • Contact details in case of questions or concerns

These surveys formed the quantitative component of the research and contributed valuable data from a total of 175 participants across Ireland.

While the survey links are now closed, we thank all who participated for their time, insights, and valuable contributions to this important national research.

Part 2 of the Study- Story Circles (completed)

The second phase of this study involved a series of Story Circles across Ireland with:

  • Young people aged 18 to 24 years
  • Youth workers and youth arts practitioners

A Story Circle is a small, relaxed gathering where participants share personal stories and experiences in response to a central theme or question. Each circle included 6 to 8 participants and was facilitated by the researcher.

Participants were invited (optionally) to bring a photograph, image, or object as a prompt for storytelling, inspired by one or more of the following themes:

  • A story about creativity in youth work.
  • A story about youth work fostering creativity in young people.

Before participating, individuals were provided with detailed information sheets covering:

  • The purpose of the study and ethical approval
  • What participation involved
  • How their data would be collected, stored, and anonymised
  • What would happen to the results
  • Who to contact in case of any issues

Participants also had access to:

These Story Circles formed the qualitative component of the study, capturing rich insights into how creativity is understood, supported, and experienced in youth work settings across Ireland.

These eleven Story Circles, held both in person and online, are now complete. We thank everyone who took part and shared their stories so generously.

Watch this Space

Once again, we would like to thank everyone who took part in and supported this research. We are now in the process of creatively bringing together and presenting the final research findings in an accessible and fun way. We really look forward to sharing them with you soon.

If you require further information, please contact: Saoirse.reynoldsconlon@mu.ie