NYA and LGA report highlights value of youth work to society

Launched to coincide with Youth Work Week (1 to 7 November), Valuing Youth Work contains case studies of local authority-funded projects in Birmingham, Devon, Hartlepool, Hounslow, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rotherham and the Wirral.

Each example shows how organisations and councils can work together to provide services covering health, citizenship, participation, and training and education, and the positive impacts such work has on young people.

In the foreword to the report, Baroness Ritchie, chair of the LGA children and young people board, said: "The case studies demonstrate a willingness by councils to innovate and to work with local partners that will stand them in good stead in rethinking their local offer for young people."

One of the projects included in the report, which is now under threat is Out of the Box in Plymouth, encourages young people to read in libraries. Plymouth City Council is currently considering reducing library services to save money, while the project's other partner, the Reading Agency, has had its government funding cut.

Significant cuts to Connexions budgets across the country are also likely to affect a number of schemes in the report, such as The Wath Young People's Centre in Rotherham, which delivers sexual health provision.

Bethia McNeil, policy manager at the NYA, said: "The NYA is very aware of the impact of budget cuts on young people, particularly the most disadvantaged. We would like to work with the LGA to help councils as much as we can."

The report will be presented to elected members at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Manchester this week.

• The For Youth's Sake campaign is calling for the government to set out its vision for young people, for employers to invest in the youth workforce and for young people to be involved in decisions about the services they use. To sign the pledge, visit www.foryouthssake.co.uk.