Opinion: People who work in the gutter are vital

The criteria surrounding resources dispensed by the public and private sectors are becoming ever tighter, and they often dictate the framework within which services have to be delivered. This, in turn, inevitably affects flexibility and discretion, and there will always be people who do not quite meet the thresholds laid down. As Jon Snow, the broadcaster, reminded those attending the recent Youth Justice Board Annual Convention, there always has to be someone willing to work "in the gutter". Snow once worked for the New Horizon Youth Centre (when it was chaired by Lord Longford) and has been its chair for the past 20 years. He is acutely aware that today's performance frameworks can often leave some of our most needy young people both metaphorically and literally out in the cold.