Cuts to Cardiff youth project is a plight seen nationwide

The EU publication will argue that demand for youth work is growing and that youth work is increasingly reaching out through open provision and street-based work, in response to the needs of those who are more socially excluded. That is exactly what Grassroots has always sought to do. But a combination of a more focused youth work strategy for Wales and stringent funding cuts that Cardiff council has no choice but to make means it will be difficult to sustain the mosaic of practices that derived from its distinct philosophy.

Located in the city centre, it has always been a place where young people (on average, 40 a day) drop in, chill out, muster confidence, start talking, join projects and start "engaging". When the talking starts, it is about jobs, training, health, housing and money, although relationships outweigh all the other issues. That says something about the young people who attend. And that is perhaps why the youth work relationship has always been especially important at Grassroots.