Services for young people 'more important than ever' after riots
Janaki Mahadevan
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Leading youth figures in London and Liverpool have spoken of the immediate need to preserve services for young people, as communities begin to rebuild themselves in the aftermath of riots across England.
Partnership for Young London said "disproportionate cuts" to youth services in the past 18 months have resulted in the closure of youth clubs, trimming back of summer programmes and the loss of many youth councils across the country.
In a statement umbrella body Partnership for Young London said youth work should not be lost as communities look to recover from the violent events in London and other cities.
The winding down of positive activities, the "virtual ceasing" of training for senior young leaders as part-time youth workers, and the "insulting sidelining" of the youth work profession all potentially had a negative impact on young people’s lives and opportunities, the statement said.
It added: "Youth work has never been more important than now; for those who may be victims of the violence, either directly or through the devastating effect on the lives of their communities. Youth provision will no doubt demonstrate its real value in repairing the lives and prospects of young people in London, but against the odds."
Chris Heaume, chief executive of Central London Connexions, said youth work is central to empowering young people. "Good youth work engages young people in society, challenging teenage oppositional stances, helping them develop responsibility and an ethical belief system, diverting their considerable energy and creativity, and providing reflection and a reliable, persistent advocate," he said. "It helps them be the best that they can be."
Kieran Gordon, chief executive of Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership, added that the gap between vulnerable young people and the rest of society is widening. "We have lost a lot of frontline as well as support staff through cuts and this has had an impact on our ability to get the kind of results we were getting previously," he said. "The loss of careers trained advisers and the cuts to services in schools, colleges and training is having an impact. Our ability to provide the depth and continuity of service for vulnerable young people is equally weakened.
"Latest data shows that the gap for those most in need is widening; this includes young offenders, young people with learning difficulties and disabilities and young people in general from poorer neighbourhoods."
Gordon attributed the rise in young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) among groups such as young offenders to the cuts to Connexions services.
"Cuts to Connexions services working with young offenders in young offender institutions and in the communities we serve, coupled with the cuts to the youth offending services has resulted in rising Neet numbers among this group of young people," he said. "We must be concerned that this will have an effect on those young people and the communities in which they live."
