There are, of course, concerns: the card has been described as the necessary gimmick required in all new political initiatives, and other commentators have expressed surprise at the commitment being made to it given the limited success of its immediate predecessor, the Connexions Card. Others are more ideologically opposed to a strategy that appears to smack of the marketisation of youth services through the exercise of consumer choice.
This leads on to the old debate about the balance to be struck between the needs and wants of young people.
Yet Beverley Hughes did emphasise that the opportunity cards were not cast in stone and would be carefully piloted in order to evaluate their place in youth provision and impact on young people. Perhaps, in her speech, she dwelt for too long on the cards at the expense of other aspects of the green paper.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
