Families want better Youth clubs

May 12, 2004 in Community Care

Families with children want improved facilities for young people
such as youth clubs more than any other local improvement,
according to government research.

Families rated better facilities as more important than crime or
drugs reduction, job opportunities, schools, sports facilities or
low cost child care.

The findings emerged in a report from the Department for Work
and Pensions.

Other findings include:

Schools have contacted the parents of 10 per cent of children
because of behavioural problems, suspension or exclusion. Lone
parents have been contacted more than couple families – 14 per cent
compared with 9 per cent.
Fourteen per cent of children age 11 to 15 had spent no time
socialising with friends during the previous week. Those most
likely to have spent no time with friends were children in families
where both parents working less than 15 hours a week.
Less than 30 per cent of mothers with children aged 13 to 18
were aware that a Connexions service was in their area. Those with
the highest income were most likely to know about it and to have
been in contact with the service. Of those who knew their child had
been in contact with Connexions, 59 per cent were satisfied with
the service they received.
One in 10 primary school pupils and more than one in four
secondary school pupils aged under 16 travel more than three miles
to school. Less than half of all children travel to school on foot
or by bicycle and 29 per cent travel by car or van.
Mothers in workless households were much more likely to have
smoked when pregnant than others. Mothers who were single parents
and working less than 16 hours a week, and mothers in families
where both partners were working less than 16 hours a week, were
about twice as likely to have smoked throughout pregnancy than
mothers in other types of families.
Mothers in couple families are twice as likely to drink every
day as mothers who are alone.