National youth conference: The shape of services to come

The question of how youth professionals can make services more relevant to young people was foremost on the agenda at the Young People Now Foundation's fourth National Youth Conference last week.

Well over 100 professionals from across the spectrum of youth work gathered in London on 21 November to listen to key speakers in the sector debate how young people's services should be shaped in the future.

The keynote address on the day was delivered by youth minister Beverley Hughes, who used her speech to highlight the importance of providing properly structured youth activities for young people. She said that after carrying out consultations with young people, the clear message that emerged from her department was young people liked to gain a sense of achievement from the projects they attend. "Many of the young people were very keen to point out that they didn't want something for nothing and they recognised the value of being challenged, "she said.