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Hughes: new youth facilities for every community

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0141) issued by The Government News Network on 26 July 2007

Government Launches Ten Year Youth Strategy

Young people will have access to new and improved youth facilities in every community under plans unveiled today in the Government's Ten Year Youth Strategy.

Teenagers will also have more of a say over local services, and be given the support they need to have their voice heard in measures set out in Aiming High for Young People: a Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities.

The strategy focuses on helping all young people, and particularly those in deprived areas, to take part in enjoyable and purposeful activities in their free time which can help them develop new skills and raise their aspirations.

Using money sourced from unclaimed assets that lie in dormant bank accounts, alongside funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the strategy will change radically the landscape of youth provision.

It is supported over the 2008-11 period by £184million of new money, in addition to £495 million of continuing funding, and reinvestment of unclaimed assets.

It also sets out measures to ensure teenagers get support from people they trust, including encouraging more adult volunteers and mentors.

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said:

"Young people contribute an enormous amount to society, and the views of young people have had a big influence on the youth strategy we are publishing today. Now we want to hear from young people themselves. What are your priorities, where do you want to take this over the next few months, and how do we get the message out across the country that something's actually happening?"

Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, said:

"This strategy represents a new vision for young people. This morning I met some young people who have been really involved in helping develop services in their area - that's what we want to see all over the country. We need to listen carefully and put young people centre stage - both in education and outside the school gates with improved places to go before and after school, at weekends and in the holidays."

Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Beverley Hughes said:

"Time and again we see young people defy the negative stereotypes and prove that they are capable of great things. This strategy will give them the funding, support and provision they need to do that.

"I am determined that society takes a more positive view of young people. There is real concern among young people that their achievements and contributions to their communities are being unfairly overshadowed by negative media images and concerns about anti-social behaviour.

"We want to put spending power in the hands of young people - so that they can fulfil their potential, whatever their background. This is a great opportunity to celebrate and nurture the achievements of young people and those who work with them."

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Andy Burnham, said:

"This strategy represents a landmark moment in improving opportunities for young people in England showing that the Government has listened to what young people are saying and that we are committed to ensuring that all are able to reach their full potential.

"We do need to do more as a society to give our young people things to do in the evenings and weekends , but in return we want our young people to be good citizens, active in the community and playing a positive part in local life. I believe this strategy will help achieve this, rightly putting young people's concerns at the heart of Government."

Commitments outlined in the strategy include:

* Using unclaimed assets and additional DCSF funding to provide a place for young people to go in every constituency;

* The continuation of the Youth Opportunity and Capital Funds, which give young people real influence over positive activities and places to go in their community, with additional investment of £25million for teenagers living in the most disadvantaged communities;

* Giving young people direct influence over an increasing proportion of local authority funding for positive activities- at least 25 per cent by 2018;

* Piloting 'coming of age ceremonies' to mark young people's transition to adulthood and bolster self-respect by celebrating their achievements;

* Exploring the potential of a 'Youth Week' to celebrate young people's achievements;

* More residential opportunities that bring young people from different backgrounds together - this could include summer camps and trips to youth hostels;

* Investing in the expansion of established schemes such as the Positive Activities for Young People programme, to increase the availability of intensive year-round activity-based support, which is successful in engaging the most disaffected young people; and

* Creating a National Institute of Youth Leadership to build young people's leadership skills.

The Strategy also commits to invest in the expansion of voluntary and community sector organisations, with a proven track record of providing high quality services and activities to young people. The start of youth workforce development programme, which, will include initiatives to attract more graduates and young people to work in the sector, will be supported by an investment of £25million.

There are also new commitments for health services and youth justice agencies to pool budgets with local authorities to make a difference on key priorities such as improving educational attainment and preventing youth offending.

NOTES TO EDITORS

This press notice relates to England only

1. Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities was published on Thursday 26th July 2007. This can be downloaded at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.

2. A copy of Beverley Hughes' Statement to the House of Commons can be downloaded from Hansard.

3. Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities concludes the Government's Policy Review of Children and Young People, undertaken to inform the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).

4. The Strategy announces the Department for Children, Schools and Families' (DCSF) CSR settlement in relation to services for young people, which provides an additional £184million over the 2008-11 period. Alongside continuing funding of £495million, this investment includes:

* The continuation of the Youth Opportunity and Capital Funds (£173million) and the expansion of the Youth Opportunity Fund in the most deprived areas (£25million)
* Investment in new and improved youth facilities (£60million, and, subject to the successful passage of legislation, the reinvestment of unclaimed assets - funds in dormant bank and building society accounts)
* Investment in established schemes such as Positive Activities for Young People and Youth Inclusion Programmes, to increase structured and intensive activity-based provision to engage the most disaffected young people (£221m)
* Investment in third sector organisations with a proven track record in working with vulnerable young people so that they can expand and sustain their provision (up to £100million)
* Expansion of residential activity provision, building on the Do it 4 Real programme, subsidising opportunities for the most financially disadvantaged young people (£15m)
* The start of a workforce development programme, including attracting more graduates to the sector to work with young people and raise their aspirations (£25million)

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