ADCS chief opposes statutory move

Trade unions Unite and Unison, and the Lib Dems are among those calling for youth work to be made statutory, to prevent councils cutting back provision.

But Marion Davis believes such a move is unnecessary. Speaking in an interview with CYP Now, she warned that making services statutory could deter young people from using them.

"I understand the call from youth workers," she explained. "But we've got to make sure that we are not stigmatising service users, who don't need high-level statutory interventions but support that's timely and tailored to their needs."

But she admitted that youth workers do need to be assured that services won't be cut.

"It would be disastrous to make cuts in areas where services are geared to early intervention," she said. "We should give providers security about their place in the market. That comes down to clearer commissioning and evidence about what works."

Davis said councils must work to help community and voluntary sector youth work to "flourish", despite pressure on budgets.

Unqualified volunteers provide some of the most effective early intervention youth services, she added.

But Doug Nicholls, national officer for youth and community workers and the not-for-profit sector at Unite, said making services statutory would not change the nature of youth work: "Young people can be involved in informal education on a voluntary basis and the service can be statutory, there is no contradiction there."