OPINION: Secret kitty gives more than financial aid

But young people could not know that PAs always had something available otherwise they would inevitably be scammed. The handout had to look as if it had come from the pocket of the PA concerned.

But what about accountability, I was asked. Certainly such expenditure would have to be justified to line managers and based on the professional judgment of the PA. But the whole idea was a non-starter as far as the civil servant was concerned.

There is a real tension here between the realities of working with young people and the prudent management of public resources. But money is a critical issue in many young people's lives, particular those from poorer environments. Twenty pounds is nothing to one young person but everything to another, and can make a difference to whether or not they participate in opportunities made available to them. Understanding the real disposable income available to different young people is a key challenge for youth workers if they are to engage in equitable practice rather than one based on (spurious) equality.