Letters

Two thought-provoking articles with similarities, "Lock-in policy for youth clubs" (CYP Now, 6-12 November) and "The erosion of voluntary participation" (Youth Work Now, November 2008).

Andy Hillier's argument in YWN that youth work must move with the times, and that therefore voluntary participation as a fundamental principle of youth work must be put aside, leads me to believe either I am too old or you are too young.

Decades ago youth work was already key to other services that required attendance by young people. The equivalent today would be an off-site educational unit for school-aged offenders.

It is not a question of either/or. I would argue that it must remain a fundamental principle for those involved in building-based generic youth work. But, as has been the case in the past, youth work methods and skills can benefit young people within a non-negotiable package of services very well. When and where the principle is applied is a matter of common sense and appropriateness. Additionally, it is for individual youth workers to decide which environment they wish to be employed in. I know mine.

Tim Saunders, Alford House, London

THE REALITY OF SEX EDUCATION

Back in the 1970s when I was a Girl Guide, our very forward-thinking Guide leader organised a talk by a family planning organisation to the Guide troops in our area.

The talk covered relationships, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections - very similar to what is proposed now.

Can I assure Stephen Green of Christian Voice (CYP Now, 30 October - 5 November) that all of us teenage girls did not see this as "a clear message for us to go out and fornicate".

The talk helped dispel a lot of playground myths around sex; encouraged us how to respect ourselves as women and not be coerced into having sex before we were ready. It allowed us to be prepared when we made a mature and informed decision on when to start having sex.

Jane Elston, London

HOW TO DEAL WITH PORNOGRAPHY

Having been a youth and community worker for 30 years and a lecturer, I have to say that the article "Porn should feature in sex discussions" (CYP Now, 6-12 November 2008) was very interesting.

While I agree that pornography is an issue that needs to be discussed fully, I wholeheartedly disagree that it should be shown by professional educators. This isn't me being a puritan or saying we should not be able to discuss it, after all we as educators would challenge paedophilia. But I would hope that we would never show abused victims, so why show demeaning pictures of women?

Baljeet Gill, Ruskin College, Oxford