Supporting Resilience Equipping Youth Workers to Address Trauma

Aims of the tool

The aim of this tool is to provide youth workers, educators, and trainers with accessible, trauma-informed methods and approaches that can be applied in their daily youth work practice. It seeks to enhance their capacity to recognise and respond to the emotional and psychological needs of young people, especially those who have experienced adversity or trauma. The guide also aims to promote resilience, empathy, and emotional safety within youth work settings, contributing to more inclusive and supportive environments where all young people can thrive.

Description of the tool

"Supporting Resilience: Equipping Youth Workers to Address Trauma" is a practical guide developed during an Erasmus+ training course that brought together youth workers from five countries. The guide offers concrete tools, reflection methods, and trauma-informed approaches that can be directly applied in youth work settings.

It is designed to help youth workers better understand trauma, recognise common emotional responses, and create safe, inclusive environments for young people. The content includes body-based methods, non-formal education tools, active listening techniques, and peer-to-peer activities. It also introduces methods like the “Resilience Tree”, case study analysis, and grounding exercises.

Learning outcomes include:

Increased awareness of trauma and its effects on young people;

Ability to apply the 6 principles of trauma-informed care in youth work;

Improved active listening and nonviolent communication skills;

Greater capacity to support young people without judgement or “fixing”;

Knowledge of practical tools to build resilience and emotional safety;

Skills to create inclusive group agreements and reflective spaces.

The guide supports the professional development of youth workers and contributes to the broader goals of the European Youth Work Agenda by promoting well-being, inclusion, and competence-based learning.