This area of practice brings together reflection, experience and action. It includes a podcast that explores responsibility through real perspectives from practice, an approach that frames how responsibility appears in everyday work with young people, and a set of methods and workshops that translate ideas into concrete activities. The materials can be used independently or combined, depending on your context and learning goals.
This podcast explores how responsibility is understood and negotiated across different contexts of working with young people. It reflects on personal responsibility, shared responsibility and the balance between individual agency and structural conditions. The conversation brings together perspectives from youth work and other sectors, highlighting how responsibility is supported through trust, participation and shared ownership, as well as the risks of placing responsibility on young people without adequate support. The edited podcast transcript based on recorded discussion is available for download below.
Responsibility in practice is closely connected to trust, autonomy and support. Young people are often expected to take responsibility, while opportunities to practise decision-making and experience consequences in a safe way are unevenly distributed. This approach frames responsibility as a relational and contextual process rather than an individual burden. Working with responsibility means creating environments where young people can take initiative, make choices, reflect on consequences and share responsibility with others.
The following methods and workshops support practical engagement with responsibility. They are designed to encourage reflection on choices, accountability and shared ownership, and can be adapted to different groups, ages and contexts. The methods and workshops related to this area of practice are available as printable cards. You can download them below.
This area of practice can be combined with the Navigation Cards to deepen reflection and discussion. The cards can help explore personal positions on sustainability, challenge assumptions about responsibility and consumption, and reflect on the consequences of everyday choices.
They can be used before, during or after activities to support orientation and meaningful dialogue.