Introducing VYEF — A New Framework for Immersive, Inclusive Youth Work

Primrose Hill, London. March 2026.

I've been exploring what VR can do for young people since 2018. But for the past six years I've been quietly building something more structured — piloting it, refining it, and delivering it across four countries. Today I want to formally introduce it.

The Virtual Youth Engagement Framework — VYEF — is a structured, values-led model for delivering meaningful youth work inside virtual and immersive environments. It was developed not in theory, but through hands-on practice with young people who face real barriers to participation.

The Problem VYEF Was Built to Solve

Youth work is built on relationships. But relationships require access — and for many young people, access is the problem.

Rural and geographic isolation. Physical disability. Social anxiety. Neurodivergence. Being a young carer. Lacking a safe, affirming local space. These aren't edge cases. They represent a significant proportion of the young people that youth services most want to reach — and most struggle to.

Traditional in-person delivery, however well-designed, has limits. Geography doesn't move. Anxiety doesn't disappear because a door is open. VYEF was developed to respond to exactly these limits.

What VYEF Actually Is

VYEF reframes virtual reality not as a tool or a gimmick, but as a facilitated social space. One that can be structured, safeguarded, and purposefully designed to support connection, creativity, and participation on equal terms.

It is a practical framework — not a product. Organisations that adopt VYEF work with HoloGen to design their own virtual environment, train their facilitators, establish safeguarding protocols, and embed best practice from the ground up. The model flexes to fit the context, the community, and the capacity of the organisation.

What It Looks Like in Practice

Since the first pilot in Ireland in 2020 — which is still running today — VYEF has been delivered across a range of contexts and communities. A regional youth service in Finland using it to bridge vast geographic distances. A UK organisation creating structured virtual spaces for young people with autism spectrum disorder. An inner-city London borough exploring how to reach young carers who have consistently missed out on traditional provision.

In each case the technology is different. The young people are different. But the outcomes are consistent — greater confidence, stronger communication skills, meaningful social connection, and pathways into further engagement.

Why Now

We are at a moment where immersive technology is becoming more accessible, more affordable, and more understood. The question is no longer whether VR can be used in youth work. The question is how to do it well, ethically, and in a way that genuinely serves young people.

VYEF exists to answer that question.

What's Next

If you're a youth organisation, educator, funder, or commissioner working with young people who are hard to reach — I'd love to talk. VYEF is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it might be exactly the model your organisation needs.

You can get in touch directly at hello@hologen.org

Collaboration, Creativity, Curiosity: Six Reflections From Four Years Working Independently

Winter sun, Dublin.

Over the past four years, working independently through HoloGen has taken me further than I ever expected. HoloGen began as a small step into creative technology consultancy, but it quickly grew into a way of working that has brought me across many countries, into youth centres, universities, cultural organisations, community groups, and creative-tech hubs.

I’ve met people doing remarkable work and had the privilege of learning from them in ways that continue to shape my practice. It has taken a huge amount of effort—long days, constant adaptation, and a willingness to build everything from the ground up—but I remain deeply grateful for the opportunities and the trust people have placed in me.

After more than thirty years in non-formal education and the creative sectors, shifting into independent work gave me a new vantage point on how quickly the digital youth and creative technology landscape is evolving. Looking back, six observations stand out.

1. Collaboration is essential

Creative technology is moving fast, and no single person or organisation can keep up alone. The strongest work I have been part of brought together youth workers, educators, artists, technologists, and community partners. When people combine their strengths, the work naturally becomes more ambitious and more meaningful.

2. Youth work needs more artists — and the arts need more educators

These two worlds enrich one another. Artistic practice brings expression, experimentation, and imagination into learning environments. Educational practice grounds creative work in purpose, structure, and accessibility. When they overlap, young people benefit from programmes that feel alive, relevant, and genuinely engaging.

3. Curiosity keeps the work moving

Platforms change. Tools evolve. Young people shift faster than any of the technology we use. Staying curious—trying things out, exploring new methods, asking questions—keeps the work fresh and helps avoid falling into old patterns. The moment curiosity fades, the work slows down.

4. Independent work is demanding, but it opens space for meaningful projects

Working for yourself means holding uncertainty, managing your own momentum, and carrying a lot of responsibility. But it also gives you the freedom to build projects that reflect your values and to partner with people who share them. That balance makes the workload worthwhile.

5. Gratitude goes further than we think

The most important part of my work has been the people involved: young participants, youth workers, teachers, creative practitioners, technologists, and partners across the world. Their openness, humour, and generosity have shaped every project. Nothing meaningful happens alone.

6. Choose kindness, even when it’s not mirrored back

Working across sectors and countries means meeting a wide range of approaches. Not everyone operates with openness or generosity. Some guard their work, compete unnecessarily, or overlook collaboration. Remaining kind and steady—regardless of the tone around you—keeps your own standards intact and makes long-term relationships possible. It is a quiet strength that supports the work more than people realise.

These six points continue to guide how I approach creative technology, digital youth work, and cross-sector collaboration. Each one keeps me grounded in a field that shifts month by month.

As HoloGen moves into its next phase, my focus is on deepening the work around creative AI, spatial computing, immersive learning, and supporting organisations to build meaningful digital and XR programmes. If you’re interested in exploring a collaboration or discussing any of this work further, I’m always happy to connect.