According to a study commissioned by the advice and counselling charity Youth Access, young people with social welfare problems cost public services millions of pounds a year by the time they eventually access help.
The report surveyed 188 young people who used youth advice services across 14 providers, collecting detailed information on the type of problems they had faced.
Based on this data, the report estimates that a typical young person has already cost social care, homelessness and health services an average of £13,000 in relation to their problems before seeking advice, spending that “could be avoided by ensuring earlier access”.
The charity is calling for investment in youth advice services, claiming that a typical intervention costing around £100 could stop a young person's problems escalating.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
