Doug Nicholls made the call as several councils across the country have announced significant cuts to youth service budgets in recent weeks. Youth centres and youth work projects targeting issues including alcohol abuse and teenage pregnancy stand firmly in the firing line.
"Local authorities should get together and insist that all parties in Parliament legislate for a statutory youth service," said Nicholls, who is CYWU general secretary. He said youth work is left vulnerable because it is not afforded the same protection as other statutory services, particularly in child protection.
"Youth work has been pooled into bigger youth services budgets, which have been dominated by the social care and case work agendas," added Nicholls. "Despite youth work being proven to be cost effective in the long term, it still hasn't received a statutory position."
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