Reframing Risk Through a Youth Work Lens

Introduction

Brighton Youth Centre are using their Youth Investment Fund (YIF) grant to completely rebuild its centre, operating from a temporary base while construction takes place. Led by a team of experienced youth workers deeply grounded in associative youth work, the Centre wanted to use part of its YIF support to explore and clearly articulate its approach to risk, recognising that a positive, thoughtful engagement with risk is essential to supporting young people’s development.

Central Support Offer – Identifying the Need

The centre’s leadership recognised that their approach to risk differed from more traditional, risk‑averse models often found in youth settings. While their practice was well understood internally, it was not formally articulated, and they were conscious of the temptation to over‑formalise or prescribe their approach during a period of organisational change and capital development. They wanted to create a shared understanding, with staff, trustees, young people and partners, that reflected real practice without undermining a culture of learning, trust and growth.

Support Provided

Through the YIF Central Support Offer, PG Collective worked with the centre to explore, surface and articulate its lived approach to risk.

PG Collective is a values‑led consultancy supporting charities, community organisations and social purpose ventures through periods of transition and change. They provide practical, plain‑English support across governance, organisational development and strategy, helping organisations strengthen foundations while staying true to their purpose. Their work is grounded in participation, reflection and respect for organisational culture.

PG Collective began with exploratory discussions to understand the centre’s values and practical realities, including the importance of resisting over‑prescription. As part of a week‑long arts festival in October, PG Collective facilitated a participatory workshop involving young people, staff, volunteers and partner organisations. Using a World Café methodology, participants explored:

• How the centre deals with the possibility of something going wrong
• How decisions are made
• How learning happens in practice

The sessions revealed differing perspectives, including tensions between young people’s expectations of intervention and youth workers’ confidence in young people’s ability to navigate risk with support rather than rules.

Rather than producing a standard risk policy, PG Collective worked with the team to develop an “Approach to Risk” position statement, deliberately framed as an emergent document reflecting how the organisation thinks about and works with risk in practice. A further workshop with staff and trustees helped refine the document and deepen shared understanding.

The Result and Impact

The resulting position statement clearly articulates the centre’s commitment to embracing risk as part of delivering a vibrant, engaging youth service, while focusing on minimising harm rather than eliminating challenge. It now acts as a mirror to internal practice and a tool for explaining the organisation’s approach to external audiences.

Additional Impacts

The document is being used as a foundation for further co‑creation with young people, including plans to adapt it into different formats, such as a zine, to ensure accessibility and relevance across audiences.

What They Said

“Working with the team at PG Collective allowed for a curious space for us to explore and refine the way in which we speak about risk. The process gave space for reflection and adaptation, and the outcome has provided a strong foundation for our work going forward.”
Brighton Youth Centre Team