TEENAGERS TO HAVE GREATER SAY OVER ‘PLACES TO GO’ AND ‘THINGS TO DO’ IN THEIR SPARE TIME
All teenagers are to be offered a major boost with more say over what they can do in their spare time and the places they can go, with the launch of Youth Matters, the Governments Green Paper for young people. (Click here to download the full document)
In a comprehensive package of measures designed specifically to address the needs of Teenagers, Children, Young People and Families Minister Beverley Hughes announced
“We want to give teenagers more of a say about what services are provided for them using Government money. Teenagers tell us that they want a better choice over “things to do and places to go” and that they want services better tailored to their needs. Youth Matters sets out how we will build on the Every Child Matters Green Paper to do that. It will put power in the hands of teenagers up and down the country – allowing them to decide how money can be spent.
Our proposals recognise that having more for young people to do in their local area is a key issue for teenagers and their parents – and also for local communities. We also know that engaging in the right kind of activities in their spare time can make a big difference to young people’s prospects – it can increase their motivation, improve their health and help them develop new skills.
“But this package also focuses squarely on the responsibilities teenagers have as members of a community. Thousands of young people are doing well in school or college and playing a part in society through volunteering. We want to celebrate that. By empowering teenagers we afford them respect – but society can reasonably expect respect in return and we need to provide young people with the right mixture of support and challenge. For example, the new opportunity cards will mean teenagers can access a wider range of activities – but where young people engage in unacceptable or anti-social behaviour, the card would be suspended or withdrawn.
With regard to work undertaken in Hyndburn on behalf or LSP its clear that local agencies will be supported in their endeavours to respond flexibly to this new initiative.
Young people, parents, community and public organisations, will have the opportunity to make a contribution to the debate and future shape of integrated young people service.
Further enquiries can be made to 0870 000 2288 or info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
