Youth Policy

Youth Policy

Introduction

In this report I will be reviewing the youth policies and will discuss how services to young people have been transformed and 'vulnerable' young people have been represented and targeted by the policies created for youth.

Discussion

Contemporary societies are characterised by an extension over time of the permanence of people in the youth condition, that is to say in a condition in which biological and intellectual adulthood is not matched with social adulthood. Today, like fifty years ago, a person is perceived to be an adult member of a society when he/she has finished his/her school attendance, possesses a job, has left the family of origin creating a new one and, possibly, has children. As a consequence, in the past youth lasted few years because most people, around the age of fifteen had, at least, finished school and found a job(Levitas 2005).

Policy Context

UK policies recognise the obligations and duty of care on organisations working with children and young people as identified in the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. These acts define children and young people as anyone up to the age of 18yrs. They recognise that similar responsibilities cover The work with learning disabled young people until they are 24years of age(Lister Middleton Smith 2005). The policies apply to all staff and volunteers. They are designed to encourage the developments of good practice so as to prevent the physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect of children and young people while they are in the care of UK Youth. They apply to all the children and young people with whom They work regardless, of their gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, nationality or country of origin. They stress the responsibility of all to be alert to the signs of abuse and provide a prompt and effective reporting procedure should abuse be suspected, disclosed or discovered, regardless of the setting in which abuse has taken place(Dugmore Pickford Angus 2006).

Aiming high and Every Child Matters

'Aiming High for Young People: a Ten-year Strategy for Positive Activities' was published in July 2007. It set out the government's long-term vision for improved services and opportunities for young people. 'Aiming High' builds on the programme of reform and integration of children's and young people's services set out in 'Every Child Matters: Change for Children' and 'Youth Matters: Next Steps'. All local councils are implementing these initiatives. The strategy includes 55 commitments intended to increase young people's participation in constructive leisure-time activities. These are responding to new evidence of the importance of participation in the development of social and emotional skills. These play a vital role in enabling young people to make a successful transition to adulthood. UK Youth is committed to ensuring the safety of children and young people by raising awareness of safeguarding and child protection issues, to prevent instances occurring, to adopt safe recruitment and selection practices and to provide training for staff and volunteers(Levitas 2005). The policies are also intended to protect those who work with children and young people from behaving in ...