News
National Youth Agency Comment on Positive for Youth Strategy
19 December 2011
The Department for Education has today launched its Positive for Youth Strategy.
In response, to the Government’s new policy on services for young people, National Youth Agency chief executive Fiona Blacke comments:
“We have long awaited the publication of the Government’s policy for young people. It has taken a considerable length of time for the policy to be formulated, beginning with the Government’s ‘youth summit’ in March followed by extensive consultation with key stakeholders including ourselves and other youth-focussed charities, local authorities - through the Local Government Association - the business community and young people. This collaborative approach is one we have welcomed.
“We feel the strategy clearly outlines government’s key themes and direction of travel, although no new money has been identified. We hope the strategy will provide an impetus to bring new thinking to the planning and delivery of services for young people.
“As an organisation that advocates for young people’s voice and influence in society, we are pleased the government has recognised the important role of young people within communities.
“In the NYA we really believe young people need youth workers, so we are pleased to see the value of youth work is acknowledged in this policy, and is a strong theme throughout the document - supporting the invaluable role youth work and youth workers play in providing opportunities for young people.
“We welcome too the commitment to retain a statutory duty on local authorities to secure positive activities for young people. We look forward to being able to comment on the new streamlined guidance that is to be published shortly and want to work with government to ensure it is sufficiently robust to ensure young people get the support and opportunities they need.
“As an Agency we fully support the vision that a society that is Positive for Youth must have strong ambitions, good opportunities and supportive relationships. This strategy sets a challenge to us all to deliver on that vision.”