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Government claim to have improved perceptions of young people

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Government claim to have improved perceptions of young people

Wednesday, 10 February 2010 10:16

Tags: governement iniatives | young people involvement

The government has published their end-of-year report on its Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds and believes they have increased community cohesion and positive perceptions of young people.

The funds, designed to empower disadvantaged young people, have provided £335m of funding since 2006, and will run until 2011.

Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds End Year Report 2008-9 said almost 2.5 million young people have been involved in the funds. It said: "Local areas report improvements in inter-generational relationships and community cohesion and increasing positive perceptions. Areas have also demonstrated the potential of funds to reduce antisocial behaviour in communities by engaging more young people in the determination of activities and through provision of activities that are able to engage harder to reach groups."

The report is based on visits to local authorities and analysis of around 150 end-year reports provided by Government Offices and local authorities.

But youth workers posting on CYP Now's forum have been sceptical that the views of young people, who are supposed to be involved in bidding for and distributing the grants, have been sufficiently taken into account.

One forum member said: "I picked up an application pack last week and was told that the scoring criteria favour applications which offer accredited outcomes and Friday/Saturday evening delivery. Is this really giving young people the ‘power to decide how this funding should be spent'?"

Another added: "Anything that is meant to be led by young people but has big piles of money attached to it does in my opinion seem to get manipulated by the powers that be."

We want to hear your response to this. Has the perception of young people changed or is the government glossing over the issue? Leave your comments below and have your say.

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