The Drug Education Forum welcomes Joining Forces, the guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for police working with schools and colleges around drugs and drug use.

Your article focuses on how police might respond if young people are found with drugs on school and college premises (YPN, 5-11 July, p2).

But the role of police on drug issues is far wider than this. Alongside parents and the wider community, the police force has a vital role in supporting every school's responsibility to provide our young people with the relevant knowledge, skills and understanding to make informed choices around any situation involving drugs.

Our members, all leading organisations that deliver or support the delivery of drug education, know from experience how vital it is that any situation that arises is handled appropriately, and does not unnecessarily widen the gap between young people and the authorities - who want to reduce the harm drugs cause.

This guidance is a big step forward in helping schools and the police work together more effectively and, more importantly, places the interests of young people firmly at the centre of policy development.

Andrew Brown, co-ordinator, Drug Education Forum

BETTER ACCESS TO ACTIVITIES

I am a youth worker for a motor project in Oxfordshire and my colleague and I were discussing the feelings we share around the issue of young people and education, and the availability of youth workers and projects around the country. We are in agreement that local authorities do not do enough to ensure the availability of projects, centres and workers.

Our project is small and charitably run so we are constantly having to struggle for funding, which always comes with the requirement of "new and improved" programmes and so on. As with a lot of projects, the constant fight for cash puts a strain on the staff team.

I was delighted to read your article about Lord Adonis promising to bring forward an amendment to the education bill that would make it explicit that local authorities must ensure access to activities that will promote their personal and social developments, which, in practice, includes youth work (YPN, 28 June-4 July, p3). I agree that it would be helpful if the youth service could be put on a statutory footing - although I don't intend to hold my breath.

Anne Smith, youth worker, TRAX, the Oxfordshire Motor Project

YOUNG BLACK FARMERS

I have been watching the Young Black Farmers series, which won a Positive Images Award earlier this year (YPN, 26 April-2 May, p15) and I'm sure they inspired the young people on the show and the viewers. The Black farmer deserves a lot of credit: I heard an interview with him on Radio 4, before the first programme, and he said he had decided to set up a scholarship for Black kids and that Channel 4 approached him about it.

Originally, the farmer had no intention of making a TV programme and, when the programme makers came to him, he agreed to filming only if he could pursue his aims in his own way. I work with the homeless. A programme that supports them - genuinely - would, like Young Black Farmers, educate participants and viewers.

Eve Luddington, adult tutor, Open Learning, St Anne's Resource Centre

NATIONAL RESPECT SQUAD

John Reid launched the national Respect Squad "to help tackle antisocial behaviour" (YPN, 28 June-4 July, p3). While the squad aims to improve respect from all members of society, Clubs for Young People has concerns about the increasing focus on swift measures and approaches to dealing with antisocial behaviour.

Although direct action might be considered as a last resort, positive and supportive approaches, working alongside young people, are more likely to generate results. We know this works: our network reaches 400,000 young people each year and in our recent survey 84 per cent of young people said that attending their club kept them out of trouble.

Greater investment is required to support all young people in local activities, to make a positive contribution in their communities and to lead healthy lifestyles. The voluntary and community sector is already playing its part. Young people have aspirations and these can better be realised by supportive youth workers and attractive things to do.

Simon Antrobus, chief executive, Clubs for Young People

- We welcome your views. Please send letters, including address and phone number to: The editor, Young People Now, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP or email ypnmagazine@haynet.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for publication.