Ross Watson explores the issues statutory and voluntary youth workers face in providing these services.
When the Association for Principal Youth and Community Officers held its annual conference in October, the agenda was dominated by discussion about the challenges they face in providing activities for young people on Friday and Saturday nights. The government is stepping up its efforts to provide these services, but comments made at the conference suggested the biggest challenge could be shaking the statutory sector out of their working routines.
Jean Davey, principal youth officer for Leeds, echoed the sentiments of many officers at the conference, saying: "We are aware that there is a reluctance by some staff to work Friday and Saturday evenings and we have audited the evenings of provision across the city. There is currently more provision during the week. Some staff have historically never been asked to work weekends and there is now an expectation that all staff will have to."
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