Cross Community Youth Work Training in a Divided and Contested Society

Abstract
With an increase in the number of special interest youth work training courses (Christian, but also Muslim in England) there is a need to reflect on some of the issues inherent within this trend. This article will draw on the Northern Ireland experience of training youth workers in a ‘contested’ and divided society, where the decision was made to develop a cross-community approach rather than have separate courses for Catholics and Protestants. Following a brief overview of the Northern Ireland context this article sets out the practice and policy developments of community relations and cross-community youth work. From this basis the paper will present how the University of Ulster developed a cross-community approach to youth work training in this divided context, identifying issues of working in a segregated community. The themes of interdependence and interculturalism will be explored in the conclusion.