Will Youth Work and Young People Feature in this over laden budget?
#youthwork #youthworker #budget2024 #weareeduators #YWCR #TheYouthWorkCommonRoom #informaleducation #politics #youthworkworks
'Twas the night before budget,
When all through the House,
Not a youth worker was stirring, not even a mouse.
The policies hung by the Chancellor with care,
Our hopes that funding soon would be there.
The young people nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of fully funded and sustainable youth services danced in their heads.
Amongst the various financial public service challenges to resolve and the impact of responding to such a diverse range of issues. Tomorrow (30th October) will see The Chancellor; Rachel Reeves MP attempt to square the circle of economic stability and development of services which for some time have been at breaking point.
The focus on the NHS will likely take a centre stage, along with a range of measures to support local authorities to be able to undertake statutory obligations effectively. The question of sustainable funding support to young people through youth services however, which in the view of this author is how to enable longer term change and is the most eloquent investment that the Government could drive for. The challenges in the mental health sector would be reduced, increase in formal education attendance issues that have been raised are the arena of the youth worker. The reduction of impact in criminal and sexual exploitation, the nature of informal educaiton to support growth and development are a fundamental cornerstone to any future plans... surely?
I am interested in how education will feature and to what extent youth work is an equitable partner or not in this integral focus on young people, is this where the Government can take a leap of faith in balancing a response to young people and their transition to adulthood?
Lisa Nandy MP for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport recently raised the 'national shame' regarding the cuts to youth services over successive years, and so the co-production and strategy plan 'to support a generation to succeed' should be present in the Budget in a meaningful way that gives some insight into whether we will continue to struggle as a sector or there is a brighter future for young people through a commitment to youth work and informal education.
The dilemma for the the Government with so many competing agendas, is how to pacify the various individuals, social groups and political commentators that will lead to a phase of response for young people (remember, many young people do not have the vote). This, rather than 'tough decisions' that the Prime Minister has referred to in regards to the economy and wider areas of taxation that aim to enable enhancements to public services.
It would be an idea to take brave decisions and determine long term responsiveness to young people and an investment in youth work that does not mask the important responses that unlock the social challenges that have increased as the youth sector has declined.
We will have to wait and see what the outcomes are tomorrow and the ongoing analysis, but i am interested in your views and if you have opportunity, young people's ideas on the following poll.
Why not continue the discussion in The Youth Work Common Room members area (Democracy and Participation Forum) and contribute to the discussion?
Steve Walker : The Youth Work Common Room (2024)
#youthwork #youthworker #budget2024 #weareeduators #YWCR #TheYouthWorkCommonRoom #informaleducation #politics #youthworkworks
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