The National Youth Agency - Youth Issues News

Youth Issues News

Each weekday The NYA monitors the national press, government press releases, Hansard, parliamentary websites and specialist publications for news and information about young people and youth policy.

This intelligence feeds the work of the Policy, Information and Research team. National press scanned include the Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Times, Independent, Times Educational Supplement, and Voice. Comments and feedback welcome - email: Jo Poultney

2008
- Dec 2008
- November 2008
- October
- September
- August
- July
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- May
- April

Grants for new ideas to get people involved in democracy: 31 Jul 2008The government has launched a new £150,000 scheme to encourage more people to become involved in local democracy.

Votes at 16: 31 Jul 2008Letter in the Guardian, signed by members of various youth organisations including Viv McKee from The National Youth Agency, supporting the government's decision at its national policy forum to back votes at 16.

Violence takes over from shoplifting as the crime women most often commit: 31 Jul 2008New figures from the Ministry of Justice has revealed that the number of young women arrested for violent attacks has increased in every age group between 10-17, 18-20 and 21 and over.

MPs tell internet firms to police 'dark side' of web: 31 Jul 2008The culture, media and sport committee has called on the internet industry to take more responsibility for protecting young people from harmful digital content relating to abuse, violence and suicide.

Police to be drafted into schools to cut violence: 30 Jul 2008Schools minister Andrew Adonis has called on police forces to permanently draft officers into schools to cut violent crime.

Tory plan to smash 'glass walls' around impoverished children: 30 Jul 2008The Conservative party has launched a five-point plan to tackle exclusion that keeps by children from disadvantaged backgrounds in poverty.

Announcing NYA Intergenerational work pilots: 30 Jul 2008The National Youth Agency’s Youth Action team is seeking expressions of interest from organisations wishing to develop intergenerational work from a youth work perspective.

£400 cash plan to encourage hard-up pupils: 29 Jul 2008Gifted and talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are to be given more support designed to unlock their talent and aspirations.

Judges ban jail restraints after child deaths: 29 Jul 2008The court of appeal has outlawed the use of physical restraint of young people in order to maintain control in privately run jails.

Teachers still in the dark over new diplomas, union leader says: 29 Jul 2008The union Voice claims that teachers lack sufficient information to teach the government's new diploma qualification.

Youngsters to be made to work to stop them turning to crime, say Tories: 29 Jul 2008The Conservative Party is about to announce plans to steer young people away from gangs.

Labour forum backs voting age of 16: 28 Jul 2008A Labour forum has supported extending the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds.

Sex education 'must become compulsory in schools': 28 Jul 2008The Telegraph reports that a government funded report by the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV recommends compulsory sex education and that young people from the age of 11 should be taught about sexually transmitted diseases and contraception.

No youth issues news to report: 25 Jul 2008There are no youth issues news items to report today.

'Universal offer' for continued education and training: 24 Jul 2008The government has unveiled that from this autumn, all eighteen-year-olds will be eligible for the new 'universal offer' of government support for continued education.

Johnson calls for national movement to tackle obesity: 24 Jul 2008Health Secretary Alan Johnson has called for a national movement to tackle the growing problem of obesity.

Low uptake mars chlamydia testing: 24 Jul 2008The BBC claims that the chlamydia screening programme in England reached just a third of the people it should have in its first full year.

Talking about sex at 11 can reduce teenage pregnancies: 24 Jul 2008A report that will form the basis of a national campaign has identified the ages from 11 to 14 as the essential time for parents to talk to their children about sex and relationships.

Immigration and social cohesion in the UK report: 23 Jul 2008A new report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation explores the relationship between recent immigration and social cohesion in the context of other social and economic transformations that affect everyday life for those living in the UK.

'A fifth of teens' carry a weapon: 23 Jul 2008A survey of 1,426 14 and 15-year-olds by researchers at Portsmouth University for Hampshire police found that almost one in five pupils surveyed said they had carried a weapon in the past year, but that only 5 per cent took these to school.

Punishment won't get rid of knife crime: 23 Jul 2008Comment piece by one time gang member Mark Johnson which criticises the government's recent Youth Crime Action Plan for its punitive nature and argues that tackling knife crime means identifying young people at risk and providing them with intensive psychological and social support.

Deprived white boys need ripping yarns, says Ofsted: 23 Jul 2008A report by Ofsted on how schools should engage with white working-class boys says they need action-packed stories about danger or sport to inspire them in lessons.

Ofsted report evaluates the impact of Programme-led apprenticeships: 23 Jul 2008An evaluation of programame-led apprenticeships by Ofsted has found that they are an important alternative to employer-led apprenticeships, but there are concerns that more needs to be done to understand and promote the programme following a fall in participation.

Mum's the word: 23 Jul 2008Case study of Elizabeth House, a project in Gateshead which provides accommodation and help for young mothers in need who require 24-hour support.

Children 'denied right to cultural life': 22 Jul 2008A campaign group consisting of leading authors and artists has claimed that the government is not doing enough to promote the arts for children and young people.

Support for faith communities: 22 Jul 2008The government has launched its Framework for Partnership which outlines new support and £7.5m investment to encourage and enable greater local activity to bringing people from different religions and beliefs together and support the work of faith groups.

UK gun crime and links with organised crime in Russia: 21 Jul 2008Feature looking at the rise of the Baikal as the gun of choice among those involved in gang warfare in Britain.

A brief history of youth crime: 21 Jul 2008Opinion piece taking a look through The Times archive to compare today's concerns of juvenile crime with that of the past.

Inner cities experience 55 per cent of knife and gun crime: 18 Jul 2008The British Crime Survey has highlighted that more than half of the 22,151 knife and gun attacks last year were committed in the areas of inner London , Birmingham and Manchester.

Decision on cervical cancer vaccine is false economy, say health groups: 18 Jul 2008The Government's decision to purchase a cervical cancer vaccine that does not give protection against another sexually transmitted disease has been critised by charities involved in sexual health.

Fewer children drink, smoke or take drugs: 18 Jul 2008Recent figures published by the NHS Information centre suggest that rates of smoking, drinking and drug taking are decreasing amongst young people.

How sex education should be taught: 18 Jul 2008Comment piece in The Guardian discussing sex education in schools and how it should be taught.

Apprentices need one face: 18 Jul 2008A House of Lords report calls for a single minister to be responsible for apprenticeships.

Further £30million investment in the third sector to reduce youth crime: 17 Jul 2008The DCSF has launched the second round of bidding for the Youth Sector Development Fund (YSDF) which will make a further £30million available to the third sector.

Dramatic fall in crime in England and Wales: 17 Jul 2008The government has released findings from the latest British Crime Survey today which claim that crime is falling at a record rate.

Advertise condoms on TV before 9pm, say advisers: 17 Jul 2008The Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (TPIAG) has called for condom advertisements be to screened before the 9pm, watershed as part of a drive to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies.

When bad things happen: 16 Jul 2008Case study of the Candle Project in south London which offers bereavement counselling and support to young people, particularly those whose families and friends have been victims of gun and knife crime.

New statistics on young people and crime: 16 Jul 2008Headline figures from the 2006 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey into levels and trends in youth offending, anti-social behaviour and victimisation among young people has found that over three-quarters (78 per cent) of young people aged between 10 and 25 had not committed any of the core offences covered by the survey in the last 12 months.

Across the divide: 16 Jul 2008Interview with Frances Done, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, on her plans to tackle guns, gangs and knife crime by working more closely in partnership with all agencies.

Youth Crime Action Plan published: 16 Jul 2008The government has published its Youth Crime Action Plan which focuses on intensive prevention, tougher enforcement and more support for parents.

Sex infections in young up again: 16 Jul 2008New figures from the Health Protection Agency have found there was a 6% rise in sexual infections in the UK in 2007 compared to 2006, although the number of people being tested has also risen sharply.

Lost, stolen or strayed: 15 Jul 2008Article in which Helen Southworth, MP for Warrington South, talks about her parliamentary bill to safeguard runaway and missing children and calls for a national reporting system to help determine how many children and young people run away and what happens to them when they do.

Youth crime action plan to be published: 15 Jul 2008The government is to publish its youth crime action plan today.

This is far more likely to work than locking them up: 15 Jul 2008Comment piece in which Polly Toynbee praises the government's youth crime action plan, arguing that its focus on intensive early intervention offers proven ways of dealing with young offenders.

Teachers to get powers to stop and search pupils: 15 Jul 2008Recommendations of an inquiry into school discipline by Sir Alan Steer are to give teachers new powers to stop and search pupils for drugs, alcohol, mobile phones and other items prohibited under school behaviour policies.

Young people to let their ideas drive the future: 14 Jul 2008The government has launched a nationwide consultation to encourage young drivers to have their views heard on proposals for improved driver training and testing.

Girls report pressure to live up to sexual ideals: 14 Jul 2008A study by Girlguiding UK and the Mental Health Foundation has revealed that girls and young women feel increasingly under pressure from magazines and websites to live up to material and sexual ideals, leaving them vulnerable, unhappy and under pressure to grow up too quickly.

Tactics against gangs fatally flawed, says report: 14 Jul 2008Researchers at Manchester University have found evidence which directly contradicts the core assumptions of government policy on gang and knife crime.

Chief Medical Officer calls for renewed focus on teenage health: 14 Jul 2008Publishing the 2007 annual report, the government's Chief Medical Officer, Liam Donaldson has called upon health authorities to take better account of young people's health, stating that adolescence could be a 'challenging time' with exposure to alcohol, drugs and smoking.

'What's wrong with offering an incentive?': 14 Jul 2008Article looks at Orange RockCorps, a new scheme launched in the UK this month which seeks to reward community spirit.

New centre for excellence for children's services launched: 11 Jul 2008A new centre for excellence is set to offer tailored support to Children’s Trusts and their partners.

Colours and gang culture - immitating US gangs: 11 Jul 2008Times feature investigating the links between violent crime and an increasing trend on the use of colour and dress codes to distinguish between territority and gang loyality, a development that mirrors trends in the US.

Numbers of young apprentices on the rise: 11 Jul 2008The number of young people starting apprenticeships has more than doubled over the last ten years, according to figures released by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Adults 'fuelling teen violence': 11 Jul 2008Guardian interview with Sir Alan Steer, head of a major government review of school behaviour policies, ahead of his report which is due for publication on Monday 14th July.

My Life My ID - young people's consultation: 10 Jul 2008A debate with young people on identity cards has been kick started by the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, as part of preparations for offering cards to over-16s from 2010.

White Paper delivers power shift to local people: 10 Jul 2008Communities secretary Hazel Blears has published a White Paper setting out proposals to deliver a fundamental shift in power, influence and responsibility into the hands of communities and citizens.

US start to rap for peace on London's streets: 10 Jul 2008

Police bring in evening curfew to keep under-16s off streets: 9 Jul 2008Police in the Cornish town of Redruth are launching a curfew aimed at keeping young people under the age of 16 off the streets at night during the summer holidays.

The effects of abuse: 9 Jul 2008A report by the Salvation Army claims that a new generation of children risks becoming socially excluded or even homeless unless action is taken to address poor and abusive parenting.

Child secure units still use adult restraint methods: 9 Jul 2008A joint review by eight government inspectorates looking at child protection services for the most vulnerable children and young people has found that those being held in secure units are still subjected to restraining techniques designed for adults, with no consistent system of recording the reasons for its use.

Action to improve children's communication: 9 Jul 2008The government has announced a £52 million package to tackle communication problems among children and young people.

Young people get online to share their views on identity cards: 9 Jul 2008The Home Office has launched a website to engage young people in a debate about the national identity card scheme.

Job shortage for unskilled young people: 9 Jul 2008A report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows worsening conditions for poorly-qualified 16 to 24 year olds in the UK.

Magistrates told to be tough on knives: 8 Jul 2008Magistrates in England and Wales are to be sent a warning from the next lord chief justice that knife crime is reaching epidemic proportions and needs the 'most severe' sentences.

Schools 'must tackle homophobia': 8 Jul 2008Liberal democrat leader Nick Clegg has called on schools to do more to tackle homophobic bullying and discrimination against gay pupils.

Compact powers to be reviewed: 8 Jul 2008Minister for the Third Sector Phil Hope has asked the Compact Commissioner to lead a debate on whether the Compact should be supported by statutory powers.

Summer arts schemes for the young: 7 Jul 2008Around 18 local councils in England are to get a share of £265m to help them provide positive activities in schools over the holiday period.

Most reports on Muslims negative: 7 Jul 2008Research conducted for Channel 4's Dispatches programme into the extent to which negative news coverage of British Muslims has increased since 2000 is to be used as evidence the community risks being demonised by the media.

We must act now to make our streets safe: 7 Jul 2008Writing as chair of Channel 4's Street Weapons Commission, Cherie Blair outlines the recommendations of the commission's report, which includes a call to establish a violence reduction unit and tough enforcement laws on the sale of alcohol to underage children.

Cash for councils that lead by example: 7 Jul 2008Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears has announced an extra £1.5m for the Peer Support Fund which supports local councils to spread their good practice and work - from affordable housing to anti-social behaviour.

The whole community must be involved in fighting violence: 4 Jul 2008Lee Jasper's comment piece on today's Guardian website argues that we should not seek to tackle the growing incidence of teenage murders as somehow divorced from the incidence of violence generally within our communities.

Crackdown on knife carriers leads to 100 charges in London: 3 Jul 2008Ninety-five per cent of young people caught with knives in London are being charged rather than cautioned, marking a huge increase in the number of young people appearing in court as police try to tackle the growing problem.

Editorial - There are ways we can tackle knife crime: 3 Jul 2008An Independent editorial article on street violence which argues that although headline statistics show that knife crime, rather than rising, has remained stable over the past decade they fail to reflect the extent to which the use of knives has increased among the young.

18,000 women and children trafficked into UK sex trade: 3 Jul 2008Report suggesting that up to 18,000 females, including girls as young as 14, are working in brothels across Britain after being smuggled into the country to meet the booming demand for prostitutes according to figures released by the police.

EU opinions sought Questionnaire: 2 Jul 2008A questionnaire for young people about the European Union and the UK.

Street violence is an infection. I can cure it: 2 Jul 2008Feature on the CeaseFire initiative in Chicago, which is tackling gang violence by treating it as an epidemic.

Youths who see crime and violence as a career choice: 2 Jul 2008Round-up of recent research findings related to young people and gangs.

Gang life is replacing family life, says woman police chief: 2 Jul 2008A leading chief constable has claimed that a gang culture based on violence and drugs has become a way of life in deprived parts of many larger English cities and cannot be tackled by policing alone.

Four arrested in hunt for teenager's killer as hundreds join protest against: 2 Jul 2008Some 400 young people marched through the streets of North London to call for an end to knife crime, following the murder of 16-year-old Ben Kinsella.

High level of fat and salt in fun park food, says report: 2 Jul 2008Not one of nearly 400 meals checked at 220 theme parks, wildlife parks, museums and other leisure attractions last year met fully the official guidelines for healthier food expected in schools in term time, according to the Local Government Association.

Sporting chance: 2 Jul 2008Feature on Arsenal Football Club's Positive Futures programme, which is using a computer program, The Substance Project Reporting System, to measure the effectiveness of its work.

Making too much drama out of a crisis?: 1 Jul 2008Feature questioning whether there should be wider representation of black culture on the screen and whether there is a point where black writers are morally responsible to stop delivering stories that portray black youths as 'underprivileged delinquents'.