"Life is pleasant," science fiction author Isaac Asimov wrote. "Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome."
It is a sentiment that anyone involved with Connexions services could be forgiven for noting with a wry smile. The service, which was launched in 2000 to provide young people in England with information and advice on careers and learning, is currently undergoing a transition of its own - and although less bleak than the one described by Asimov, it is nevertheless proving unsettling.
In its Youth Matters green paper published in 2005, the government decided to give local authorities control of Connexions with the aim of producing more joined-up services. Until then Connexions services were funded via direct grants. This power does not come into effect until April 2008, but many local authorities are already sorting out new arrangements.
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