Youth work ‘to be a council priority’

Councils will be required to provide sufficient youth work activities for young people, under a government amendment to the Education and Inspections Bill passed last week.

Schools minister Lord Adonis, speaking during the bill’s committee stage in the House of Lords, said the duty would ensure that councils made youth work a priority.

But Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Walmsley was unsuccessful in her bid to amend the bill to give care leavers and young people from low-income households free access to leisure activities.

Adonis said councils would have discretion to decide who should be eligible for financial assistance.