Sector raises 'huge concerns' over government approach to youth policy
Neil Puffett
Monday, January 28, 2013
A lack of government interest in youth services is marginalising young people and risks triggering social unrest, leading figures in the sector have warned.
The stinging broadside follows comments made by Education Secretary Michael Gove last week, who told the education select committee that youth policy is not a priority for central government.
A letter to Gove, signed by the heads of 26 youth organisations including the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), the National Youth Agency (NYA) and the Scouts Association, calls for “urgent clarification” of his remarks.
It argues that Gove’s desire to hand responsibility for youth policy to local authorities is an apparent reversal of last year’s Positive for Youth statement and raises “huge concerns”.
“Surely at a time when the government is hoping to kick-start a troubled economy, we cannot afford to lose sight of the contribution that young people make,” the letter states.
“Yet it seems that instead of placing young people centre-stage, this government is marginalising them.”
Youth services have been under tremendous pressure in recent years. Cuts were cited as one of the contributing factors that caused riots across towns and cities in England in August 2011 by many commentators.
The letter raises concerns that the current government stance on youth services could trigger further disquiet.
“The laissez-faire approach currently favoured by government will, at best, jeopardise the success of initiatives such as the National Citizen Service because the infrastructure to deliver it is eroded; at worst, it will risk social unrest,” it says.
The signatories call on Gove to pursue an “overarching policy framework” for young people, and to consider learning in non-formal settings, in addition to schools when making decisions on education policy.
“Only a co-ordinated approach will ensure that young people have life chances and aren’t consigned to the scrap heap of policy failures,” the letter adds.
The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.
The full list of signatories of the letter is: Susanne Rauprich, chief executive of NCVYS; Denise Hatton, chief executive of YMCA England; Charlotte Hill, chief executive of UK Youth; David Wright, chief executive of the Confederation of Heads of Young People’s Services (CHYPS); Fiona Blacke, chief executive of the NYA; Simon Blake, chief executive of Brook; Jane Bryant, chief executive of Artswork; Kevin Curley, chair of the Hull Children's Adventure Society; Rosie Ferguson, chief executive of London Youth, Marius Frank, chief executive of ASDAN; Mark Goodman, chief officer at Voluntary Youth Services Devon; Natalie Grant, young trustee at NCVYS; Matt Griffiths, executive director at the National Foundation for Youth Music; Thomas Lawson, chief executive of Leap Confronting Conflict; Helen Marshall, chief executive of Ambition; Neil Martin, chief executive of the Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade; Craig Morley, chief executive of the Challenge Network; Tessy Ojo, executive director of the Diana Award; Terry Ryall, chief executive of vInspired; Martin Sharman, interim chief executive at Changemakers; Rosina St James, chair of the British Youth Council; Jane Slowey, chief executive of the Foyer Federation; Matt Stevenson-Dodd, chief executive of Street League; Emma Thomas, chief executive of YouthNet; Derek Twine, chief executive of the Scout Association; and David Tyler, chief executive of Community Matters.
