Brian Belton's powerfully original book examines Gypsy lives against the framework of social theories that illustrate how identity arises out of the cultural complexity of individual biographies, families, and communities. Addressing the lack of contextual and social perspectives in the existing literature and the underlying assumption of a consistent Gypsy lineage, he explores the subject of identity to include the broader social context in which the population exists. He argues that Gypsy identity is created and maintained not only by tradition and heredity, but also by social and...

Brian Belton's powerfully original book examines Gypsy lives against the framework of social theories that illustrate how identity arises out of the cultural complexity of individual biographies, families, and communities. Addressing the lack of contextual and social perspectives in the existing literature and the underlying assumption of a consistent Gypsy lineage, he explores the subject of identity to include the broader social context in which the population exists. He argues that Gypsy identity is created and maintained not only by tradition and heredity, but also by social and...

The book provides a much needed fresh and radical perspective of the professional role, identifying novel and innovative interpretations of and trajectories for practice.
Breaking away from ideas mostly framed by academics and/or those with relatively limited practice focus, with contributions from a diverse group of chalk face workers as well as references to authentic practice situations, Belton reorients youth work to respond to the actual experience of young people and those working for their interests and growth.
Rejecting deficit models as part of the hangover from the...

The book provides a much needed fresh and radical perspective of the professional role, identifying novel and innovative interpretations of and trajectories for practice.
Breaking away from ideas mostly framed by academics and/or those with relatively limited practice focus, with contributions from a diverse group of chalk face workers as well as references to authentic practice situations, Belton reorients youth work to respond to the actual experience of young people and those working for their interests and growth.
Rejecting deficit models as part of the hangover from the...

Youth Work and Islam provides an eclectic focus, reflecting it duel inspirations of its title. It considers how youth work can be informed by Islam but at the same time looks at how practice can be pertinent to young Muslims, their community and relationship with wider society.

In this book Sadek Hamid and Brian Belton bring together a range of thinkers and practitioners who exemplify and analyse this situation. This not only produces much more than a straightforward view of informed practice, it also presents a broad and humane understanding of the character and possibilities of youth...

Youth Work and Islam provides an eclectic focus, reflecting it duel inspirations of its title. It considers how youth work can be informed by Islam but at the same time looks at how practice can be pertinent to young Muslims, their community and relationship with wider society.

In this book Sadek Hamid and Brian Belton bring together a range of thinkers and practitioners who exemplify and analyse this situation. This not only produces much more than a straightforward view of informed practice, it also presents a broad and humane understanding of the character and possibilities of youth...

In this book academics, practitioners and scholars from all over the planet present relatively heterogeneous perspectives to produce something of the homogenous whole that youth work might be understood to be. This promotes the understanding that to lock down youth work in notional stasis (bolt it into a carceral archipelago) would be the antithesis of practice, which would effectively destroy it as youth work. Other writers have effectively tried to achieve just this, or perhaps identified (put a flag in) what they see (or want to be) the core of youth work practice.

But youth work is not...

In this book academics, practitioners and scholars from all over the planet present relatively heterogeneous perspectives to produce something of the homogenous whole that youth work might be understood to be. This promotes the understanding that to lock down youth work in notional stasis (bolt it into a carceral archipelago) would be the antithesis of practice, which would effectively destroy it as youth work. Other writers have effectively tried to achieve just this, or perhaps identified (put a flag in) what they see (or want to be) the core of youth work practice.

But youth work is not...

In 1965 West Ham United were the first side made up entirely of English players to win a major European trophy. This was the zenith of their European history, but other exciting campaigns were to come. These adventures were to be replicated, but without the pioneering magic the Hammers engendered; they nearly reached the sky, others just followed.