A watched pot never boils. But the moment you look away, suddenly bubbles start rising to the surface. The same could be said for youth reviews.
First to bubble up was the Treasury's policy review of children and young people's services, which apparently is taking a very keen interest in the actual role and practice of the youth worker as it seeks to further develop policy directions ahead of next year's comprehensive spending review.
Then comes youth charity 4Children and its Make Space Youth Review, with an ambitious one-year programme of information gathering on provision and demand for services.
And then we get to hear about influential think-tank the Institute for Public Policy Research, which is carrying out a study of youth activities that will report its findings in the autumn. In fact, it seems just about everyone is interested in talking about young people, youth policy and trying to work out exactly what youth work is for.
But for all the words that will be spoken, points of view that will be stated and theories that will be tested, none of it will be as meaningful as watching young people that you have worked with move forward as a result of high-quality youth work.
Just last week I was saying farewell to Alex and Sam. They have been members of our youth council for well over a year. Alex is now heading off to Cambridge, while Sam is going on to a college course for students with special needs.
Youth work brought these two very different young people together. And by working on the youth council they've learned new skills from each other and have come to respect each other's particular point of view.
As they came up to collect their certificates and receive a round of applause from the rest of the group, the last question on my mind was: "What is youth work for?"
It may be difficult to keep up with all these reviews, but the interest in youth work that comes with them is to be welcomed. Not everyone knows an Alex or a Sam. But everyone should hear the contribution that youth work can make to promoting inclusion and improving outcomes. And if it takes another review to do that, then keep them coming.
Michael Bracey is principal youth officer for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, michael.bracey@haynet.com
