Editorial: A Budget that offers much for the sector

The youth sector has only just digested Youth Matters: Next Steps, the Department for Education and Skills' reaction to consultation responses from last July's Youth Matters green paper policy document. And Youth Matters sits squarely in the framework and contexts of Every Child Matters, the Children Act 2004 and the Every Child Matters: Change for Children agendas. Looking back a little further, we had the Transforming Youth Work and Transforming Youth Work: Resourcing Excellent Youth Services initiatives.

But scratch beneath the surface and there could be grounds for optimism in the Chancellor's announcement of a review of children and young people's policy, which will inform the 2007 comprehensive spending review and look at what "strategy should be adopted over the next 10 years to deliver a step change in youth services and support for young people". This sounds like Brown setting out his agenda for power, assuming Tony Blair doesn't renege on his promise to disappear off the political scene before the next general election.