In a recent report, MPs Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Ben Bradley shed light on the trajectory of youth work policy and practice over the past five years, while laying out a comprehensive blueprint for the next government to enhance youth services provision.
The analysis, as featured in Children and Young People Now, underscores the necessity for a national workforce strategy for youth workers and uniform standards to evaluate the adequacy and quality of local youth services.
The report, Moving forward with youth work: An agenda for change, emerges at a critical juncture, advocating for the next government, irrespective of its political stripe, to ensure "stable funding that sustains youth work and supports its growth to meet young people’s increasing needs." This ambitious goal calls for a collaborative approach across government departments, spearheaded by a minister dedicated to youth affairs.
Envisioning a cross-departmental committee led by this minister, the report emphasies the importance of shared outcomes that resonate across the government spectrum, making research and practice accessible and engaging for young people. The proposal includes an annual parliamentary report subject to scrutiny, ensuring youth voice and representation are integral to decision-making processes at every level.
The pandemic underscored the vital role of youth work as an "essential service," highlighting the need for a strategic approach to cultivate demand for youth workers. The MPs advocate for clear guidelines on what constitutes sufficient youth provision and the necessary capacity for local delivery, including the ratio of professional youth workers to trainees and volunteers.
Despite recent advancements, the provision of youth services across England remains inconsistent, with the report noting a "patchwork of provision and funding" due to varying levels of commitment from local councils. To address this, the MPs propose a standardised national system for assessing youth work's sufficiency, suitability, and quality. This system aims to foster a coherent local youth offer, incorporating young people in its design and decision-making processes, and introducing 'light touch' inspection arrangements and quality assurance.
The report also highlights innovative and effective relationship-based youth work approaches, drawing on evidence collected by Children and Young People Now in early 2024. Notable examples include voluntary sector-led youth services in Brighton, the community-based approach of Oasis in south London, and the integration of arts and sports in youth outreach by charities like Roundhouse and Football Beyond Borders.
As Russell-Moyle and Bradley articulate, the impending general election and subsequent government formation present an opportunity to rethink engagement with young people. This reevaluation necessitates viewing decisions through the lens of young lives, emphasising the critical role of youth work in this endeavor. The MPs call for increased devolved responsibilities and cohesive funding, enabling local councils or combined authorities to offer community-based youth services accountable to residents, including young people, in alignment with local needs and priorities.
This report not only serves as a roadmap for the future of youth work but also as a clarion call for a unified, strategic approach to empowering young people across the nation.
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