Local Authorities requried to provide positive activities for young people

From Monday 8 January, all local authorities will be expected to secure access for young people to ‘positive activities’, including youth clubs, sports facilities and art projects.
Local authorities will also be expected to take account of young people’s views on activities and facilities currently available to them as well as any new ones they would like to see in the area.
The local authority will then be required to publicise these to young people, and to keep the information up-to-date.
The requirements come into force, 8th Jan, under Section 6 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

“Positive activities” might include sports clubs, cultural events, volunteering schemes or art projects but the scope is broad and activities can be educational or recreational - so long as they contribute to young people’s well-being.

This new legislation was proposed in the Green Paper, Youth Matters, and DfES is committed to engaging and empowering young people as well as working with local authorities to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to take part in positive, meaningful activities.

Young People’s Minister, Beverley Hughes, said:
“Some local authorities already provide excellent services for young people, we want to see that ethos spread, and the rest catch up with the best.”
“A significant minority of young people cannot or do not take part in positive activities. We want to make sure that every young person, whatever their background, has the chance and the means to do so. By giving them access to constructive activities, as well as more influence over what activities are made available, young people can enrich their lives, increase their skills and confidence, enhance their life chances and avoid the possibility of falling under negative influences.”
“During the public consultation on Youth Matters, we asked young people what they thought we needed to change - 60 per cent of them, and the majority of parents, told us they thought there was not enough to do in the area in which they lived. We’re now making it a priority, an obligation, for local authorities to turn that around.”

The Government will provide £4.5 million in each of the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 for local authorities to develop and publicise local things to do and places to go. This is alongside the DfES’ £115 million Youth Opportunity and Capital Funds, which provide money for youth-led activities, and to create or improve places for young people to go within their community.

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