Report - Salto

Bridges for Recognition | What is Bridges for Recognition? - Introduction
11
Outcomes
With so much information, and such a complex subject, it would have been easy to leave feeling
overwhelmed. Over the three working days there were many pieces of information shared and
understanding increased. Many new connections were made and there was much renewed
commitment to recognising the work of young people and those who work with them.
On the evaluation form of Bridges for Recognition, all participants declared to have gained
more knowledge about recognition (79% a lot, 21% a little), 100% of respondents indicated an
increased motivation to take recognition further (75% a lot, 25% a little) and all participants
built up a network of recognition contacts at the conference (64% to large extent, 36% to some
extent).
The complete evaluation results are available on p. 82 and at
www.SALTO-YOUTH.net/BridgesForRecognition/
Bridges for Recognition created the awareness that recognition of youth work is an increasingly
important issue and that the discussions seem to have moved from ‘whether or not to walk the
way of recognition’ to ‘what type of recognition systems and procedures do we want’. The recognition
debate moved into a phase of experiments and actions (see Good Practices p. 50). Lessons from
these can be applied to more officially or structurally embedded recognition schemes.
In summing up the conference, Jonathan Bowyer, the General Rapporteur, mentioned the
following areas where our understanding had developed:
Awareness of different types of recognition:
recognition of individual skill ≠ social recognition of youth work by society
Overview of different formats of recognition:
certificates of attendance, certificate of skills, portfolios documenting skills, accreditations,…
Different things that young people, youth workers and trainers can be recognised for:
for participation, for taking on responsibilities, for proven skills and competencies, for their
investment and enthusiasm,…
Ways of recording and ways of working out what to and how to record