08 March 2006

Young people from 13 to 19 will have responsibility for deciding how a £115m fund is spent, Children's Minister Beverley Hughes announced today.

The funds are a key part of the radical reform of services for young people set out today in Youth Matters: Next Steps.

Beverley Hughes said:

"Never before has a Government put so much responsibility into the hands of young people to let them decide what activities or facilities they need, whether it is a youth café or establishing better sports or art facilities.

"This is a new form of Government devolving right down to local people including teenagers as young as 13 having influence over a multi-million pound package.

"Up and down the country, local communities make the two-fold complaint that there is nothing for young people to do or that local facilities are not relevant to the interests of young people.

"This is a ground breaking approach to tackle both these issues in the communities that need it most. We believe that putting trust in young people and giving them responsibility will play a key part in tackling anti-social behaviour.

"The reforms announced today are an important part of the Government's Respect programme in helping to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour by providing more things to do and support when needed.

"They also reflect the Government's desire to give power to local people - in this case local young people."

The Chancellor Gordon Brown, who joined Beverley Hughes for the launch of Youth Matters: Next Steps, said:

"Teenagers are our future leaders, entrepreneurs and parents and their experience of youth is hugely significant in shaping the direction they take in their lives. So it is time for a youth strategy that is shaped by young people - based on listening to and trusting young people to develop the services they want and need to fulfil their true potential. This relationship with young people - built on trust and responsibility - must be a new frontier in British politics.

"Just as we must take tough action against anti-social behaviour, so we must celebrate the achievements of young people - like the many thousands who volunteer to work in their local communities. We must empower these young people to take responsibility for shaping the facilities and services they need. And, because for too long too little has been invested in youth services - we must show we have listened to young people - and will continue to do so - by making the investments they are calling for."

Funding of £115m will be available over two years through the Youth Opportunity Fund and the Youth Capital Fund - ring fenced money that young people will be able to bid for from their local authorities to improve facilities and activities in their neighbourhood.

This means that around £500,000 will be available in an average local authority and over £2m in the very largest and where the need is greatest over the next two years.

Other key reforms in Youth Matters: Next Steps include:

- A statutory duty for local authorities, in the context of national standards, to ensure that young people have access to a wide range of positive activities. In time we want to see the national standards including for example access to two hours per week of sporting activity and access to two hours of other constructive activities in clubs, youth groups and classes.

- 10 pilot projects around England to develop the Youth Opportunity card. All 13-19 year olds will be eligible for the card giving them access to a range of discounts on things to do and places to go as well as from high street stores. The cards can also be 'topped-up' with money by young people themselves and/or their families to spend on sport and other positive activities. For the most disadvantaged youngsters, the Government will top up the card each month with money for them to spend on these activities.

- The volunteering proposals being carried out by the Russell Commission Implementation Body. We are also pushing ahead with our peer mentoring schemes announced in the PBR to help pupils with the transition from primary to secondary schools and also schemes for looked after children.

- Improve Information, Advice and Guidance by encouraging schools and colleges to work in partnership with children's trusts to agree new arrangements for delivering IAG, which could include existing good Connexions services. We are introducing new quality standards which will ensure that young people are aware of all the routes open to them, that advice is truly impartial, and that it raises aspirations - for example by addressing gender stereotyping. We will create a single, innovative service for young people using modern technology and including a helpline.

- Improving and simplifying how we help young people who lead complicated and troubled lives, so that they get early and continuous support, with pathfinders already underway in 14 local authorities redesigning their services for this group.

Caroline Flint, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Health said:

"The Government's shared vision that every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential provides us with a once in a generation chance to really transform opportunities for young people and their families. Good physical and mental health is at the core of making this a reality.

"As highlighted in Youth Matters, there is an inseparable link between good physical and mental health and learning and achievement. The proposals set out in Youth Matters are founded on the principle that young people need to be in good shape physically and emotionally in order to maximise their contribution to society and to fulfil their own ambition."

James Purnell, Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism, said:

"The interest shown through the Youth Matters consultation, especially by young people, has been really encouraging. These proposals give young people a real say in the design and delivery of provision. It will enable them to access a rich variety of cultural and sporting activities."

Editor's Notes

1. The Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital funds will both be made available from April 2006 for two years.

2. The 10 pilot areas for the Youth Opportunity Card are: Bolton, Cambridgeshire, Camden, Durham, Lincolnshire, Liverpool, Nottingham, Suffolk, Sunderland and Tower Hamlets

3. The consultation on the Youth Green Paper - Youth Matters ended on 4 November. Over 19,000 responses on the Youth Green Paper - Youth Matters were received from young people. Over 500 young people took part in nationally organised events, and in the South West region alone over 4,000 young people took part in consultation activity.

4. For a copy of Youth Matters: Next Steps see www.dcsf.gov.uk

Contact Details

Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk

Press Notice 2006/0025