The National Youth Agency: Young people, youth work and thepolitical manifestos

LABOUR

The Labour manifesto includes the guarantee of a sixth-form place, apprenticeship or further education at 16, more "dedicated provision for disruptive and excluded pupils, including by charities and voluntary groups with expertise in this area" and "tackling conditions - from lack of youth provision to irresponsible drinking - that foster crime and antisocial behaviour".

It also includes an increase, by at least a half, of programmes targeted at young people most at risk of offending and expansion of drug treatment services for young people.

It offers "a better alternative for young people": "We know that parents and young people think that there should be more things to do and places to go for teenagers. We will publish plans to reform provision in order to ensure that all young people have access to a wider set of activities after the school day such as sport and the arts. We are determined that better provision will be allied to a stronger voice for the young themselves in designing and managing local provision. We will establish the first national framework for youth volunteering, action and engagement - a modern national youth community service, led by young people themselves - with an investment over the next three years of up to 100m with matched funding from business, the voluntary sector and the Lottery."