The social needs of young people were what inspired the huge building programme undertaken then, but these needs are now in danger of disappearing under a tide of extended schools and youth opportunity cards. It's important that the youth service preserves its unique selling point - the youth club.
New money is urgently needed to restore those buildings we still have, at least 250m, and new buildings are undoubtedly needed. The 40m offered in Youth Matters will go nowhere. It shows the priorities given to these initiatives when the Connexions Card cost 140m.
The social needs of many young people for friendship and support are not necessarily met in schools and all young people need somewhere to meet their friends and build social capital. The youth club provides that space. Youth club workers value young people and respect their right to their own space, but also want to engage and support them and offer them opportunities and challenges - not so they can become more employable, but so they can have a good time and develop along the way. Young people in a youth club are not only learning from workers but from each other.
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