Partnering with the police force on youth justice projects or the local primary care trust to reach ambitious health targets avoids duplication of effort, achieves efficiency savings and provides families with better, more accessible services.
I hope that, rather than desperately clinging onto historic revenue streams, more strategic leaders will step outside the sector and explore new partnerships.
- Anne Longfield, chief executive, 4Children
Violence strategy not enough
The government's new strategy for tackling violence against women and girls really just brings together many existing ideas and plans with a few new bells and whistles.
That is all well and good but what we need to stop violence against women and girls is more action and more resources. Campaigns to prevent these crimes are important, but curriculum changes in 2011 won't help today's victims.
- Gillian Guy, chief executive, Victim Support
Pupils not fit for work
Sir Stuart Rose has now joined Tesco's Sir Terry Leahy and BT's Sir Michael Rake in slamming the country's education system, which, they claim, leaves young people "not fit for work". The fact that we are hearing complaints from some of the country's top employers is of great concern.
With more than a million young people now unemployed, change is crucial if we are to ensure the best chances for those leaving education. From my experience working with teachers, I know they would be only too happy to see more focus on practical skills development but are squeezed by an increasingly narrow emphasis on attainment in English and mathematics.
Students are sent out into the world with a pile of certificates but lacking the skills and experience they really need for the workplace.
- Roger White, chief executive, Asdan
The editor, Children & Young People Now, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP. Letters should include an address and phone number. All letters may be edited for publication. cypnow@haymarket.com. 020 8267 4706
