Youth sector needs help to realise its true value

It is not that they do not work to improve young lives, but there is a lack of solid evidence that they do so.

Step forward the rather cryptic-sounding “framework of outcomes for young people”, developed by the Young Foundation. Our special report examines how the charities Brathay, British Red Cross and London Youth have been trialling the framework over the past few months in their day-to-day work.

Their key lesson is this: any organisation serious about proving its value must determine first and foremost what it wants to achieve for young people in terms of outcomes and changes to their lives, in partnership with them. That might sound dazzlingly obvious, but services are too often designed with insufficient focus on their recipients.

A “build it and they will come” attitude will not do. Second, once these goals are determined, work out what capabilities young people need to reach them, such as better communication, confidence or team-building skills. Third – and only third – decide what activities will bring about those capabilities. The pilot organisations are using the exercise to reconfigure their entire offer so that it is fit for purpose.

The outcomes framework is part of the Catalyst consortium’s two-year contract as the Department for Education’s “strategic partner” for young people. This expires next March, begging the question of what will happen afterwards.

The DfE, under the minister responsible Edward Timpson, should capitalise on these efforts to root outcomes in practice, otherwise the entire exercise will have been a wasted opportunity. This work must continue to be driven nationally so that the achievement of outcomes gains a stronger foothold in the sector. It is imperative for the development of the country’s young people and the future of good youth work.

Carlile review signals safeguarding change

It is perhaps a sign of “child-protection-fatigue” that the media generally overlooked Lord Carlile’s independent review of the notorious Edlington case this month. But his recommendations to better protect children are significant and sound. The government will probably reject his calls for national guidance on thresholds for intervening with families, and a national parenting guide, given its aversion to prescribe from the centre.

Change is however inevitable on Carlile’s recommendation to bring more independence to Local Safeguarding Children Boards. Michael Gove expressed his frustrations in his speech on child protection that LSCB members are “generally representatives of those very organisations who have made mistakes”, while chairs are appointed by those with the most to lose.

Despite their good intentions, however, both these Westminster creatures ignore the financial reality of the situation for safeguarding services on the ground. Shrunken budgets and stretched frontline staff will do nothing to keep children safe.

Ravi Chandiramani, editor, Children & Young People