Inquiry launched to flag up the needs of young people

Young people and the role they play in today’s society will be placed under the spotlight for the next 12 months as part of a major inquiry into attitudes and responses to teenagers.

The Make Space Youth Review, which was launched this week and is being run by national charity 4Children, will consider how young people can be better supported as they make the transition into adulthood.

The most recent figures available reveal that just 17 pence per day is spent on statutory youth services for each young person aged between 11 and 16 in England, and that the number of youth clubs is in decline.

In addition, while youth crime costs society an estimated £13bn, just £1.6bn is spent by the government on positive prevention.

4Children chief executive Anne Longfield said: “It’s time we decided, as a society, that we need to support young people. Not addressing this need costs us millions in dealing with the consequences of antisocial behaviour. It is simply not money well spent.”

National Youth Agency chief executive Tom Wylie said he hoped the review’s findings would inform the government’s 10-year strategy for children and young people and lead to greater investment to support young people’s personal and social development. “This is a timely review to underpin the agenda set by the government for Youth Matter: Next Steps,” he added.