'At the Threshold': Youth work through the Covid-19 pandemic

The research report, ‘At the Threshold: Youth Work through the COVID-19 pandemic’, documents the experiences of Peace4Youth workers who have supported young people through the persistent pressures of lockdowns and restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research represents all 11 Peace4Youth youth projects who moved their services online and continued to hold a connection with young people during the unprecedented public health restrictions that ensued from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Peace4Youth workers offered practical support such as food parcels, digital connectivity through dongles and other support and care packages and continued to connect with young people to maintain trusted relationships. Workers were acutely aware of the limitations of digital youth work but realised that delivering a programme to young people during this period gave them a sense of purpose and cut through the isolation they were experiencing. Digital poverty continues to be an issue for young people – with those already disadvantaged, being more so due to lack of digital connectivity. The research documents the painstaking efforts of youth workers to address these issues, while continuing to develop the role of young people in peace-building and citizenship across the 6 counties of Northern Ireland and the 6 border counties in RoI.