The National Youth Agency: Comment - Reaching out to the reviled

But why not go further? Surely it's the duty of a people-focused discipline such as youth work to reach out to some of the highest-flying, shortest-selling traders so cruelly thrown on the scrapheap and now having to shoulder the blow to their self-esteem of being blamed by almost everyone for messing up the world economy. When no-one else will have them, we should be stepping up to the plate to give them a chance to rebuild their confidence as volunteer youth workers. Think of the skills they could share with young people (though all things considered, best not let them run the youth club tuck shop), and think of the values that young people could share with them. They can learn that you can have a social life without a Porsche (though admittedly you'll have to leave at 8.30pm to catch the last bus), and that a cranberry crush from the non-alcoholic bar is actually far nicer and better for you than yet another Flaming Lamborghini. They were probably bored with dinner at The Ivy again, and so will no doubt jump at the chance of helping out with the healthy eating night, making a three course dinner for under £1.75 on a two ring stove in an Albemarle coffee bar.