10.1 General context
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Historical developments
In Spain, youth work has a tradition of over 45 years, rooted in the country’s transition to democracy. During Franco’s dictatorship (1939-1975), youth work was closely linked to Catholic Church, which played a significant role at the time, particularly in education.
Following the end of the dictatorship and establishment of democracy, various youth work initiatives emerged, as detailed in Volume 7 of History of Youth Work in Europe. One key milestone was the creation of the Spanish Youth Institute (Instituto de la Juventud), in 1977 which was restructured in 1985 into a modern institution. It is currently attached to Ministry of Youth and Children (Ministerio de Juventud e Infancia). Another major development was the founding of The Spanish Youth Council in 1983. Both initiatives were actively promoted during 1985, the International Year of Youth, which is widely regarded as a turning point for youth work in Spain.
Youth policies became standard practice in the 1990s. This period saw the consolidation of a network of youth organizations, mostly publicly funded, and the rise of educational work linked to the professionalization of social education and social services. However, the 2008 economic crisis led to significant cuts in public spending, placing many youth associations and youth departments established in the 1990s at risk due to lack of funding, thereby weakening the youth work sector.
National definition or undertanding of Youth Work
Youth work is not officially recognized as a profession in Spain, and the concept lacks a clear legal or institutional definition.
Youth work is carried out by professionals from various fields – such as social workers, psychologists, sociologists, social educators and community development workers - whose roles and employment conditions very depending on the employer and the recognition of youth work in the organization. These professionals usually operate within the youth departments of the autonomous communities, municipalities and provincial social services departments.
Some Spanish universities offer postgraduate studies related to youth work, youth policy, or social intervention. However, master’s programmes specifically focused on youth work remain scarce and often fall under broader disciplines, making access difficult.
The absence of official recognition, couples with high tuition costs, discourages aspiring youth workers from enrolling. Many practitioners, especially those working at the local level, acquire their skills in the voluntary sector, especially in NGOs devoted to education in leisure time, where they are trained via on-formal educational programmes.