The TUC, which represents 67 unions, says: "A proper funding stream must be guaranteed so that youth work can be put on a statutory basis." It argues this is necessary to recruit the 4,000 youth workers needed to meet the Government's aim of having one qualified youth worker to every 400 young people.
The General Federation of Trade Unions, which represents 32 specialist unions, says making youth services statutory would force lower-spending local authorities to increase their investment in youth work.
The Local Government Association stops short of calling for youth services to be statutory. But it calls for a "revised statutory duty", backed by funding, to ensure local authorities provide a "sufficient youth offer".
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