Opinion

Give councils the money to deliver new youth strategy

1 min read Editorial
The announcement of a new National Youth Strategy – the first in England for 13 years – should be cause for celebration and go some way to righting the “scandal” – to quote National Youth Agency chief executive, Leigh Middleton – of the UK being the only European country not to have an up-to-date plan for young people.
Derren Hayes: “Safeguarding children needs the involvement of communities, universal services and social work teams to be successful”
CYP Now editor Derren Hayes

In a slightly unusual move, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy unveiled how much funding would be provided to deliver the strategy six months before the policy document itself is due to land. Nandy, who knows the sector well from her time as a policy officer in several children’s charities in the noughties, said the strategy will be produced with young people and the sector, and published by next spring in time to influence the Spending Review.

Reaction to the £185mn funding package has been mixed because while it gives with one hand, it takes with the other.

New money to invest in youth centre equipment, local authority infrastructure and education and training pilots is somewhat offset by the ending next year of the National Citizen Service and Youth Investment Fund (YIF), worth a combined £150mn annually.

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

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this

Trainee Social Worker

London (Central), London (Greater)

Head of Growth, Development and Outreach (Maternity Cover)

Home based, with regular travel across the UK for work