This book brings together the theory and practice of evaluation in youth and community work to offer a timely and thorough exploration of how evaluation, professionalism and practice intersect. It looks at the complexities of evaluating in practice and assesses the challenge of evidencing the difference that youth and community work can make. 'Bringing her extensive practice, research and teaching experience to the task, Susan Cooper provides an excellent and welcome treatise on participatory evaluation, confidently putting young people at the centre of the process. Offering a step by step method, this timely book will enable practitioners, not only in youth work but in the human services more widely, to incorporate evaluation as a core aspect of empowering practice.' - Dave Ward, Professor of Social and Community Studies, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK 'Participation seems to be a taming force in evaluation, making it fit the youth work context. Using a participatory approach ?enables us to recognizing the value of different opinions and it gives people their say. But as Sue Cooper reminds us, participation is not just about evidence and youth work, but also one way of keeping democracy alive in modern society. Every politician should read this book.' - Anu Gretschel, Senior Researcher Ph.D., Finnish Youth Research Network, Finland