Prime Minister Tony Blair launched Labour's Big Conversation in November.
It is aimed at encouraging the British public to get involved and think more about politics and the challenges Britain faces in the future.
In the latest issue of Spotlight, its occasional series of briefing papers for national and community leaders published this week, The NYA responds to the challenges facing society that are raised in the paper. These include questions such as how do we lead healthier lives? How can more be done to tackle poverty and inequality? How can communities be made safer? And how can every child be given an excellent education?
The briefing also highlights other challenges that the Government should seek to address. It calls on it to value all young people, and to recognise the different needs of children and young people, that learning does not only happen in schools, that an emphasis on vulnerable young people should not result in less vulnerable young people being ignored and that youth work is an essential component of the services available for young people and as such requires sustained and adequate funding.
Among the actions it calls on the Government to take are:
- to concentrate on supportive, not punitive, approaches to young people;
- to "young people-proof" all services and ensure that young people are active participants in their development and delivery;
- to implement a local Youth Pledge in all local authorities to create an environment where young people can experience different opportunities, learn new skills and grow into healthy, engaged citizens;
- to focus policy on the wider determinants of life success and wellbeing for all young people; and
- to ensure that the wider youth work agenda and the ethics that underpin it are fully represented in all strategic partnerships.
"Young people and those who work with them need to make their voices heard," says Hilary Spiers, director of communications at The NYA. "There's a good opportunity to do this with Tony Blair visiting various parts of the UK over the next few months and discussing the questions in this consultation."
- To participate in the Big Conversation, go online at www.bigconversation.org.uk.
Email responses to bigconversation@new.labour.org.uk, post to FREEPOST Big Conversation, or Text 84402 with a top priority for Britain. Details of face-to-face meetings are available at www.labour.org.uk/regionaloffices.
- The full version of Spotlight is available on The NYA web site at www.nya.org.uk.
