Youth Service Slated by Ofsted

2.20.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Aug 2006

An Ofsted report into the Northamptonshire Youth Service carried out in January described it as "inadequate and gives poor value for money" - "Youth work practise is inconsistent, with good quality work sharply contrasting with too much weak practise. There are weaknesses in leadership and management ….key initiatives have not impacted sufficiently on the quality of youth work and the outcomes for young people"

Claims by the Conservative Administration that a radical transformation of the youth service has since taken place have been rejected by Cllr. Richard Church, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the County Council.

"You don't transform and revitalise a service by slashing its budget by two and a half million pounds which is what the Conservative County Council did in February"

"A good Youth Service is key to tackling anti-social behaviour - It is ironic that a new Anti Social Behaviour Strategy has been adopted by the County Council at a time when the Youth Service is at an all time low"

"At this time of year there are many young people with time on their hands and little to do. The Council expect voluntary organisations to step in, but isn't providing the funding to support them. Meanwhile they forced Roadmender to close and threatened Grendon Hall. They simply don't understand the needs of young people.

You don't have to look further than the local papers to see the amount of dissatisfaction that young people have with the Youth Service throughout the county."