Providing young people with the opportunity to achieve

These do not necessarily need to be structured learning programmes that produce accredited outcomes. They could, instead, offer opportunities and activities on a more flexible basis that occupy time with some sense of purpose and achievement. Critically, young people need to be motivated and committed to such provision.

What is not needed is a range of schemes and programmes that compel participation under threat of some kind of sanction or the withdrawal of leisure-time possibilities that leaves young people with nothing to do.

What are young people likely to get under the new political arrangements in the UK? This is not an easy question to answer, for a considerable range of provision lies in the hands of devolved administrations with different commitments. But their capacity to sustain services to young people will be restricted by the budgetary restraint imposed by the Westminster government.