Much has been achieved by the Government in providing interventions during the early years that are capable of improving life chances. However, as they reach the age of 11 and beyond, children undergo a process of exposure to new and more diverse influences. As young teenagers spend more time away from their parents, they become moulded by their experiences and relationships outside of the family.
Teenage years should be fun and exciting, but they can also be a time during which dangerous behaviour takes root and young people feel isolated.
Government support through the early years via Sure Start needs to continue if we are to avoid losing the benefits achieved early in life.
The Make Space Youth Review has presented a set of findings to Chancellor Gordon Brown that are based on consultations with more than 7,000 young people in schools, youth clubs and community organisations around the UK.
We learned that teenagers are often bored and spend large amounts of time on unstructured and unsupervised activity.
The Youth Review presented emerging recommendations that included a radical plan to provide a youth 'hub' of positive activities in every community.
Brought to life by investing in a new breed of youth worker, or 'youth champion', these activities can offer opportunities for teenagers to spend time in safe, structured and fun environments, while providing a 'one-stop-shop' for their support service needs.
To deliver this, all we need to do is provide strategic support to local authorities in co-ordinating a transformed offer and provide some capital investment for upgrading buildings, such as schools, community centres and children's centres, for after-school hours facilities for young people.
Involving minimal capital spending, the findings of the Youth Review indicate that this is an investment the Government cannot afford not to make.
In short, there is a need to find more things to do, places to go and people to talk to for young people.
