The National Youth Agency: Comment - Choosing furniture

I recently visited a famous furniture store. As my eyes rested upon a settee, fairly square and simple with a cream striped cover, I stroked the arm. I was joined by another woman who said: "Isn't it clean?" She stroked the other arm. I explained that my concern was Ribena - I could see the vivid purple stain sinking into all that creaminess. "I have boys," she said. Her voice told the story. "Dark leather for boys is what's needed." We smiled at each other, and moved on, having shared our moment of understanding about each other's lives. I love that kind of interchange. I like feeling connected with other people - to move below the surface and share a slightly deeper meaning. Social capital begins here - rooted in conversations between people; conversations that incorporate an element of mutual understanding and hence of trust.

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.

Incidentally, neither my new acquaintance nor I bought the settee.

Viv McKee is director of policy and development at The NYA. She can be contacted at vivm@nya.org.uk.