Advice alert - Barbara Rayment, director, Youth Access
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
More than one million young people are being deprived of advice and counselling services every year, revealed a report last week by the charity Youth Access.
This shortfall, combined with the fact that ever more young people are seeking guidance as a result of the recession, makes action to improve these services a pressing concern.
But despite the urgency of the situation, the sector is facing a prolonged period of uncertainty, with the government's Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) strategy, which had been due to be unveiled in the spring, put back now until autumn at the earliest.
Youth Access director Barbara Rayment says the quality of information, advice and guidance has been hit-and-miss for several years and variable across regions.
This means the need for a clear vision of the future is greater than ever, she asserts.
Members of Youth Access, which include local and national voluntary organisations, are reporting an increase in enquiries relating to housing, debt and welfare issues. But it appears those in need of clear and helpful advice on these issues are finding it difficult to come by.
Besides a lack of access to services in general, Rayment says many young people who get to speak to someone don't actually receive the advice they need because the personal adviser hasn't been trained to help them in the first place.
Lack of targeting
Some don't even attempt to access services because of a lack of tailored advice for young people in their area, meaning they must access adult services instead. "Some of the issues that young people have cannot necessarily be picked up by a youth worker or personal adviser who hasn't had the proper training," she says.
"A lot of mainstream adult advice services, such as Citizens Advice Bureau, are not seen as particularly welcoming to young people so they tend not to use them."
The government's long-awaited IAG strategy might remedy the situation, although Rayment fears the delay in publication could mean the situation will get a lot worse before it gets better. "(The delay) will clearly leave local authorities with difficulty in knowing that a strategy is about to happen," she says.
"They will feel they have been promised a strategy and therefore may not move forward on something if they think they are going to hear something different to what they are doing. It creates a kind of paralysis."
Rayment has occupied a variety of roles in her own career, including in careers advice and employment services. She became involved with Youth Access 12 years ago.
IAG strategy
She was one of a number of people to advise the government on the IAG strategy.
She has seen the initial report, which was due to be published some months ago, but believes this may have been subject to change.
"I imagine, given there are new ministers in post, they will want to think differently about it or consider it further," she says. "I imagine that is why (it has been delayed)."
Although reluctant to discuss the contents of that initial report, she is more than happy to give her opinion on what it needs to achieve.
"Will it tackle some of the problems? I think it could and I think it should. It has to. I think we need an IAG that is recession-proof and focuses on ensuring the right kind of training opportunities and that other things are in place to maximise young people's job opportunities," she asserts.
"It also needs to ensure that all other types of support and advice arrangements (are there) to stop young people sinking further back," Rayment adds.
"Many need advice in the first place, before they can consider getting a job or somewhere to stay, otherwise they will be caught in a vicious circle. This is the worry about the lost generation that gets talked about."
BACKGROUND INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
- The Connexions service was created in 2000 to provide for young people's information, advice and guidance (IAG) needs
- But it was heavily criticised and in April last year, control of the service was transferred from central government to local authorities
- Since then, critics have claimed that the government lacks a coherent vision for IAG
- The government's IAG strategy was due out in spring this year, but has been delayed several times and is now expected in the autumn
- The Youth Access report revealed a huge gap in provision, particularly for the most vulnerable young people