In this Special Feature, Bernard Davies sets out what he judges to be the most important and salient features of the activity which names itself ‘Youth Work’. Davies brings to bear the full weight of his broad and historically informed experience of practice, teaching, and
research to assess the significance of the impact of the contemporary policy environment. He argues that it is crucial that youth work identifies and clarifies those aspects of its practice which distinguish it from other approaches to work with young people and
the Manifesto is offered as a contribution to that process. Davies believes that if those associated with the work undertake this task effectively, youth work might grow and flourish in the new context. If practitioners and intellectuals do not take up this challenge, there is a danger that youth work might lose what little authority it already has to address the needs and interests of young people.