Toolbox — For Training and Youth Work
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Report
Wood Work in Youth Work: Cross-Country Needs Analysis
A comparative needs analysis based on 128 youth work practitioners in Germany, Italy, Lithuania and Poland, identifying how to make woodworking a safe, inclusive and educationally meaningful method in youth work.
Aims of the tool
The tool aims to:
-Analyse youth workers’ experience, confidence, needs and working conditions related to using woodwork in non-formal education.
-Identify the educational potential of woodwork for developing teamwork, problem-solving, confidence, inclusion, sustainability and community engagement.
-Examine barriers connected with safety, infrastructure, equipment, organisational procedures and facilitators’ readiness.
-Guide the development of accessible learning scenarios, technical blueprints, safety resources, inclusive adaptations and instructional materials.
-Support organisations in planning training, piloting, monitoring and quality assurance for woodwork-based youth activities.
-Promote safe and inclusive implementation, particularly when working with young people with fewer opportunities.
Description of the tool
This evidence-based resource presents a cross-country analysis of the needs of youth workers, educators, trainers and other practitioners interested in using woodwork as a non-formal education method. It synthesises 128 valid questionnaires collected in Germany, Italy, Lithuania and Poland between March and April 2026.
The report explores practitioners’ previous experience, confidence, access to suitable working spaces, safety concerns and preferences concerning future educational resources. It demonstrates that woodwork is widely valued for its potential to develop soft skills, cooperation, confidence, inclusion, environmental awareness and community engagement. At the same time, it identifies a significant gap between practitioners’ interest in the method and their readiness to deliver safe, structured and learning-oriented activities.
The tool translates the research findings into practical recommendations for developing and implementing woodwork activities. These include a three-level progression model, a beginner-friendly first-session pathway, competence-based training recommendations and a connected activity package combining:
An educational scenario and learning outcomes;
A technical blueprint and bill of materials;
Safety guidance and risk-assessment tools;
Inclusive roles and adaptations;
Reflection and debriefing questions;
Short instructional videos;
Monitoring and evaluation instruments.
The report also provides country-specific recommendations, a proposed five-day training structure, piloting guidelines, quality indicators, a risk-management framework and a prioritised action plan.
After using this tool, readers will be able to:
Explain the educational value of woodwork in youth work;
Identify the main barriers to its safe and inclusive implementation;
Recognise differences in practitioners’ needs and operating conditions;
Select an appropriate activity level according to the venue, group, tools and facilitator experience;
Connect practical construction tasks with explicit learning outcomes and meaningful reflection;
Integrate safety, inclusion and sustainability into activity design;
Plan facilitator training and pilot activities in different settings;
Apply monitoring indicators and risk-management measures;
Recognise the limitations of the available evidence and the need to verify local safety, safeguarding, insurance and legal requirements.
Available downloads:
Disclaimer
SALTO cannot be held responsible for the inappropriate use of these training tools. Always adapt training tools to your aims, context, target group and to your own skills! These tools have been used in a variety of formats and situations. Please notify SALTO should you know about the origin of or copyright on this tool.
Tool overview
http://toolbox.salto-youth.net/5966
This tool addresses
Social Inclusion, Project Management, Intercultural Learning, Youth Participation, Environment
It is recommended for use in:
Strategic Partnerships
Capacity Building
Behind the tool
The tool was created by
Mateusz Górecki
in the context of
KA2 Strategic Partnership
The tool was published to the Toolbox by
Mateusz Górecki (on 26 August 2026)
and last modified
25 August 2026
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