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Youth Matters: Green Paper

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Ruth Kelly) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Green Paper Youth Matters has today been laid before Parliament. Youth Matters addresses key issues relating to the way in which we provide opportunities, challenge and support to our teenagers. The proposals in Youth Matters build on the ambition of Every Child Matters that all young people should achieve five key outcomes—being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, and achieving economic well-being. We should not lose sight of the fact that most young people are doing well, achieving more at school and going on to further study. We need to support these young people with more and better information, advice and guidance, which takes into account how jobs are changing and our proposed 1–19 curriculum reforms, and which is delivered in a way that suits young people including through the use of modern technologies. We also want to provide a wider choice of positive activities for young people to do when they are not in school, college or work and we want to encourage more young people to get involved in volunteering. It is a fundamental part of our proposals that young people and their parents should have a greater influence over the things that are provided for them   locally. Proposals include supporting local authorities to develop a card for young people which will give them discounts on activities and could be credited with amounts that young people can spend on their choice of sports and other constructive activities. We also propose a new Youth Opportunity Fund to be spent at young people's discretion on projects to improve things to do and places to go in their area. We want to improve the way in which we support young people with specific needs and problems, including providing them with a nominated lead professional who will be a single point of contact and making sure that support is provided in a co-ordinated, convenient and integrated way. But we should also recognise that some young people have problems and some get involved in anti-social behaviour and crime. This can have a negative impact on their life chances and affects the view the wider community has of all young people. Those who fail to behave well should be supported in improving their behaviour but should not benefit from the proposed discount card until they do so. A copy of the Green Paper will be available in the   Libraries of both Houses and will be accessible on the Department for Education and Skills website.