Youth Contract scheme must get the right results

It is accepted that a failure to help young people "disengaged" from society will store up problems for decades for themselves and society at large. The payment-by-results model proposed appears reasonable; payments to providers will be staggered across three phases based on their ability to keep young people in training or employment.

The programme, of course, comes against the backdrop of youth service cuts and the decimation of Connexions. Support and guidance for vulnerable young people is becoming harder to come by. However, the programme has its share of potential hazards. First, it is essential that providers work with young people to establish their interests and identify suitable opportunities, rather than shunt them on to any course or placement that is available and bag the initial payment. The danger would be that young people drop out, feel let down and become more alienated than they were before.