As part of the ongoing efforts within the Y-CARE project, two project partners: Quality Culture and ISUM recently conducted a series of focus groups and roundtable discussions aimed at better understanding the well-being and working conditions of youth workers across Europe. These activities provided valuable insights into the daily challenges faced by professionals supporting young people, and highlighted the urgent need for systemic changes in the sector.
Quality Culture: Addressing Emotional Struggles and Systemic Barriers
On June 26, Quality Culture organized two online focus groups involving 10 Italian youth workers. The sessions created a safe and intimate environment where participants shared personal struggles related to achieving a healthy work-life balance. Discussions revolved around emotional exhaustion, blurred boundaries between personal and professional life, and the lack of institutional support structures. Participants emphasized the need for greater recognition of their emotional labor and more sustainable working conditions.
Later that day, Quality Culture hosted a roundtable discussion that brought together youth workers and psychologists, many of whom work with vulnerable groups such as young migrants, individuals with substance use disorders, and youth experiencing mental health issues. This session broadened the scope to workplace challenges at the structural level, highlighting the need for more comprehensive policies, better organizational culture, and long-term support mechanisms to ensure the mental health and sustainability of youth workers.
ISUM: Bringing Stakeholders Together in Zagreb
ISUM held its roundtable discussion on June 16, 2025, in Zagreb, gathering a diverse group of stakeholders including youth workers, psychologists, civil society representatives, and even a former National Coordinator of the Youth Guarantee Initiative from the Croatian Ministry of Labour. The roundtable focused on the emotional and bureaucratic pressures faced by youth professionals. Participants reported unrealistic expectations from funders, a focus on quantity over quality in youth work outcomes, and a lack of systemic and peer support. The discussion emphasized the urgent need for institutional understanding, supervision systems, formalized peer networks, and more flexible work standards to support a healthier work-life balance.
That same day, ISUM also conducted two focus groups with youth workers from various sectors. The sessions explored key stressors in the field, including difficult interactions with parents, unstable team dynamics, and insufficient emotional support from leadership. While informal peer support proved helpful, many participants highlighted how poor organizational communication and unrealistic demands led to chronic stress and burnout. A shared conclusion among the groups was the need for systemic interventions, such as reduced working hours, improved managerial communication, and a cultural shift toward prioritizing employee well-being.
The findings from these focus groups and roundtables offer a critical lens into the real-life experiences of youth workers across different European contexts. Both Quality Culture and ISUM have successfully facilitated platforms for youth professionals to voice their concerns, identify shared struggles, and co-develop recommendations for meaningful change. These insights will directly contribute to the Y-CARE project’s mission of improving mental health support and workplace conditions in the youth work sector, paving the way for a more sustainable and supportive professional environment.
