Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work Response
While there is significant research on the impact of food insecurity, there is less so through the lens of young people and the youth work response. Therefore, this research presents findings from a small-scale United Kingdom-based study asking what are young people’s and youth workers perceptions o...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/4/4/92 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846102330121912320 |
|---|---|
| author | Sarah O’Mahony Hayley Douglas Jess Achilleos |
| author_facet | Sarah O’Mahony Hayley Douglas Jess Achilleos |
| author_sort | Sarah O’Mahony |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While there is significant research on the impact of food insecurity, there is less so through the lens of young people and the youth work response. Therefore, this research presents findings from a small-scale United Kingdom-based study asking what are young people’s and youth workers perceptions of food insecurity and the youth work response. Focus group research methodology was adopted. The research recognised that food insecurity is part of a wider issue of poverty and inequality, and we explored how this is perceived by young people and youth workers at the Personal, Cultural, and Structural levels whilst also situating issues of food insecurity in the global context. Themes of <i>togetherness</i>, <i>relationship</i>, <i>otherness</i>, <i>disempowerment</i>, and <i>learning</i> were identified as key components in the youth work response to food insecurity. A number of recommendations are made, including the importance of highlighting the power of youth work in responding to young people experiencing food insecurity. The youth work approach has application to all professions working to challenge issues of food insecurity and social injustice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-227e6472266f4d24a85faf0114feeac9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-995X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Youth |
| spelling | doaj-art-227e6472266f4d24a85faf0114feeac92024-12-27T14:59:54ZengMDPI AGYouth2673-995X2024-10-01441453146810.3390/youth4040092Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work ResponseSarah O’Mahony0Hayley Douglas1Jess Achilleos2Independent Researcher & Youth WorkerYouth and Community Work Department, Wrexham University, Wrexham LL11 2AW, UKYouth and Community Work Department, Wrexham University, Wrexham LL11 2AW, UKWhile there is significant research on the impact of food insecurity, there is less so through the lens of young people and the youth work response. Therefore, this research presents findings from a small-scale United Kingdom-based study asking what are young people’s and youth workers perceptions of food insecurity and the youth work response. Focus group research methodology was adopted. The research recognised that food insecurity is part of a wider issue of poverty and inequality, and we explored how this is perceived by young people and youth workers at the Personal, Cultural, and Structural levels whilst also situating issues of food insecurity in the global context. Themes of <i>togetherness</i>, <i>relationship</i>, <i>otherness</i>, <i>disempowerment</i>, and <i>learning</i> were identified as key components in the youth work response to food insecurity. A number of recommendations are made, including the importance of highlighting the power of youth work in responding to young people experiencing food insecurity. The youth work approach has application to all professions working to challenge issues of food insecurity and social injustice.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/4/4/92food insecurityyouth workinequalitysocial justiceempowerment |
| spellingShingle | Sarah O’Mahony Hayley Douglas Jess Achilleos Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work Response Youth food insecurity youth work inequality social justice empowerment |
| title | Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work Response |
| title_full | Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work Response |
| title_fullStr | Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work Response |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work Response |
| title_short | Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work Response |
| title_sort | food for thought young people and youth workers perceptions of food insecurity and the youth work response |
| topic | food insecurity youth work inequality social justice empowerment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/4/4/92 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahomahony foodforthoughtyoungpeopleandyouthworkersperceptionsoffoodinsecurityandtheyouthworkresponse AT hayleydouglas foodforthoughtyoungpeopleandyouthworkersperceptionsoffoodinsecurityandtheyouthworkresponse AT jessachilleos foodforthoughtyoungpeopleandyouthworkersperceptionsoffoodinsecurityandtheyouthworkresponse |