Local Youth Voice ‘must’ be heard – 507b again

The legislation is not just the statutory basis for local authorities (Las) in England to take the lead on the provision of youth services but where the law says that youth views ‘must’ be heard in shaping them.

The relevant section was inserted in 2006 and states that LAs ‘must take steps to ascertain the views’ of young people and to ‘secure that the views [of young people] are taken into account’.  The Act also makes provision for the government of the day to produce guidance to elaborate on this. This has happened three times, in 2008, 2012 and 2023, reflecting the government of the day’s priorities. DCMS consulted with stakeholders, including service users and their peer representatives, in the context of the changing nature of society and role of ‘youth services/youth work’ within it. What difference will the refreshed guidance make? Will a reminder that ‘must’ mean that it happens, and if not, is more likely to happen from now on? Will the impact of views being ‘taken into account’ be increased? Some of these questions, which I will return to, rather depend on what information is being collected on local activity, when and by whom, and whether evaluation is commissioned and reviewed nationally by those issuing the guidance.