The National Youth Agency: Comment - Choosing furniture

The youth work process also starts at this point of contact and, through a purposeful intervention, seeks to build a more sustained relationship. This relationship of mutual trust and respect provides an environment where the conversation can move on, so that the young person gains more value - learning more about life and willing to take part in new experiences. It is not only the individual young person who can benefit. Youth workers are well skilled to broker conversations between individuals, with groups and with other members of the community.

Wouldn't it be good if, in shopping centres, rather than moving young people on and out, staff there sought to build relationships between customers of all ages, creating just a little mutual belonging? I don't want to argue for an increase in consumerism, but, in a part of the world where shopping malls are places to chill out, surely they could be offering this facility to the young as well. Imagine a world where these warm, well lit spaces were full of people talking to each other, feeling good about being in a shared environment, having a sense of belonging. Sales might go down - but social capital would be on the up. Everyone would feel safer.