Guidelines for working with young people with fewer opportunities

Aims of the tool

Empower youth workers and theatre educators with skills to create inclusive and emotionally supportive environments.

Promote the emotional intelligence, resilience, and active citizenship of young people with fewer opportunities.

Increase access to theatre-based activities for marginalised youth, fostering their personal, social, and cultural development.

Description of the tool

The guidelines provide a rich and practical resource designed to support youth workers and theatre educators in their work with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those facing mental health challenges, disabilities, or social exclusion. Rooted in international research, field expertise, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the tool blends theoretical insight with actionable methods for creating theatre spaces that are safer, more inclusive, and emotionally supportive. By engaging with the guidelines, youth workers will develop a deeper understanding of the diverse needs and lived experiences of marginalised youth, and learn how to tailor theatre-based activities to better respond to those realities. They will enhance their capacity to foster emotional intelligence using Goleman’s framework, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation. The guidelines also equip practitioners with techniques to build trust, strengthen group cohesion, and encourage meaningful emotional expression. Ultimately, they empower youth workers and theatre educators to create emotionally resonant experiences that not only support personal growth and resilience but also cultivate young people’s sense of identity, belonging, and active participation in society.