Councils failing to communicate with Young People - 28-07-2008
Local Authorities are ignoring the needs of young people. Only 15% provide online information about summer holiday activities specifically designed to appeal to young people, according to research released by The Scout Association.
With the UK’s youth increasingly sourcing information from the internet, The Scout Association believe it is vital that information on summer activities is accessible and relevant to young people if local services are to be fully utilised.
Seventeen year old Amy Brunsdon, from Reading in Berkshire, agrees, ‘No one wants to waste their summer holidays stuck indoors all day, so having access to up-to-date information can make a huge difference. I need information that is relevant to me, not just my parents.’
Helping to keep young people safe
The Scout Association sampled 100 borough, district, city and county councils nationwide and discovered that 75 councils currently provide online information on what activities are available during the summer holidays, with a quarter providing no information at all. However, only 15 councils provided information targeted to young people.
Chief Scout Peter Duncan commented, ‘While it’s encouraging that a number of local authorities and councils are providing information, there needs to be more information available. We know that there is loads going on, but without access to what and where it is, how can we expect young people and their families to take advantage of it?
‘The issue of keeping young people safe and off the streets is high on everyone’s agenda at the moment. Scouting believes that providing activities and opportunities to keep young people occupied rather than curfews and restrictions should be part of the solution.’
In response to these findings, The Scout Association has launched a national consultation to gather the views of young people regarding the opportunities they have to get involved with outdoor activities.
Regional consultations will be held in London, Bristol, Liverpool and Glasgow, to capture responses.
The Scout Association will reveal the results of this national consultation in September 2008.
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