This study is the product of a two year action research project with the Norfolk Youth and Community Service from 1989 to 1991. The research ideas were developed with the Wakefield Youth Service from 1992 to 1993. The climate in the Youth Service was one of review and change. The field-work took place concurrent with an emerging body of literature, which the curriculum debate stimulated. There are three themes: creating access within research for young people; developing youth work practice through research; and developing policy in the Youth Service. The main activities were a census of youth workers' views, a series of projects involving young people and a sample survey of young people, employing young people as interviewers and, later, engaging with young people during the interpretation stage. The study makes tentative steps towards the development of research which is meaningful to young people themselves. The findings are grouped around youth work content, process, the youth work relationship and the nature of youth provision. The study makes a contribution to understanding of three particular youth work modes - association, responding to young people's interests and dealing with anxieties. It enhances comprehension of young people's informal learning experiences, of the importance of young people to one another and of the young person-adult relationship, which have broad youth work implications. The conclusion holds that youth work is a craft, rather than a process or a method. It is comprised of tasks to be undertaken, techniques to be employed and tensions to be managed with the integrity of the practitioner. An argument is presented for youth work research which is compatible with youth work itself.