I really didn't buy in to the idea that through our work we are potentially "smashing communities". People are by and large much more mobile now than they once were and often this is to do with going where the work is, but not always, some of us just have a sense of adventure and like to explore. However just because you leave one community doesn't mean that you don't become part of another. I have travelled alot over the years, lived in several different countries, joined different communities and have been greatly enriched by that experience, don't get me wrong it hasn't always been easy but I see it as very much a positive. As we discussed in class there is an up and a down side to everything, communities can bring out the best in us when they are about including, pulling together and looking out for eachother and the worst when they are characterised by small mindedness, exclusivity and isolationism.
My background is in Community Education and nearly all the projects I have worked in over the years have grown from needs identified in particular communities and localities and from directly involving the people in those communities in their planning and development. Projects that are deeply rooted in the community and that are much needed are better equipt to withstand threats to funding and changes in goverment policy as communities feel that they own a particular service and will fight tooth and nail for it's suvival. I think this is something worthwhile to think about for the development of more community guidance. I would like to see less of an emphasis on delivering careers guidance in school, taking it away from those influences and associations. I think there are many young people who would engage with it much more readily if the people offering guidance had a better idea of their world and where they are coming from. Involving young people and other community members themselves in the setting up of small projects and services would be a good idea, meeting young people in their own homes or whereever they are hanging out, youth clubs, community centres etc . Having a real equitable dialogue with young people is so important and I think it can be difficult to achieve this in the school setting.
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I agree that career guidance can’t only be successful in schools. I worked as part of a team last year looking at how we could promote Careers Scotland locally. All the evidence we gathered pointed towards getting out into the community more and working with young people in the environments that they felt safe and confident in. THEY told us that they would prefer to speak to a member of staff in their youth club or local community centre but when we took it back to management, no go! They didn’t want to know, even though this had been highlighted by the young people themselves, ridiculous excuses were made!
ReplyDeleteYou must have felt really disappointed, especially when your work clearly highlighted a need. I'm hoping that in the future they'll be more funding for independent community guidance projects, particularly if there is a need and Careers Scotland don't want to take it on, no doubt it's all about the numbers game.
ReplyDeleteI agree, guidance can be done out in the community, using outreach centres and away from school environment. It would surely allow for a more holistic approach and advisers can see young people in their social world, meet their families etc. Sadly, it seems funding is limited for these kind of intiatives.
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