Civil Society Strategy

Commenting on the government’s Civil Society Strategy Rachel Dickinson, ADCS Vice President, said:

“The Civil Society Strategy clearly recognises the impact of youth services and youth workers who contribute to a range of positive outcomes at a community and individual level, this is welcome, as is the commitment to involve young people more in the development, implementation and evaluation of new policies that will directly affect their lives. DCMS are leading the way with this and we believe other government departments should follow.

“A review of statutory guidance setting out our duties in relation to youth services seems sensible. The Strategy rightly states that much has changed since this guidance was last updated, in 2012. Youth services have been disproportionately impacted by a 49% reduction in local government funding since 2010, and local authorities have been exploring different ways of arranging, commissioning and delivering these services in a bid to retain some provision. Services are typically more targeted and embedded as part of the early help offer.

“The Strategy does not address the key drivers of social inequalities in this country including rising levels of child poverty, expected to reach a staggering 5.2 million by 2022, but it is a welcome step in the right direction.”

ENDS

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