Youthline cautions against another restructure

Youthline supports Minister Paula Bennett's cautious approach to another restructuring of youth services.

Youthline Spokesperson Stephen Bell says young people have suffered more than any other age group in this recession and young people require help they require professional and quality. There seems to be an underlying assumption that anybody with good will and perhaps a good idea can provide services in this sector.

“It takes time and an incredible about of passion and skill to build an effective youth service, to dismantle what has been established over the last five years would be a mistake, he says.

It is possible to follow up all young people with a very small increase in expenditure, which would not mean a wholesale shut down of what is proving to be a very effective way of engaging young people,” he adds.

The history of the youth services sector is one of fragmentation and short term solutions, what is needed is not unlike what young people need; consistency and clarity.

“The call to dismantle these youth services is unhelpful and ill informed.”

Youthline has been providing youth services for over forty years and currently works with over 20,000 people every year managing over 500,000 contacts.

ENDS

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