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Time to put our youngsters centre stage

23/ 8/2007

I AM delighted with the Labour government’s announcement that it’s investing huge amounts of money in youth activities.

As a result, young people will have access to new and improved facilities, especially those in deprived areas, like parts of Rochdale.

Rochdale’s Labour councillors are extremely passionate about improving youth services across our town because they are critical to raising young peoples’ aspirations, keeping them out of mischief and in helping educate them for their futures.

We have councillors that are qualified youth workers or active youth leaders and that helps us understand the problems youngsters face and the support they need to set off on the right track.

The government has announced a 10-year youth strategy. The aim is for young people to take part in enjoyable and purposeful activities in their free time.

This will help youngsters gain new skills and raise their aspirations to achieve more in life.

If the council plays its cards right – and we’re dependent upon the Lib Dem council leadership co-operating with central government for this so there’s no guarantees – we could see a windfall of funding for 2008 to 2011.

Rochdale could benefit from this initiative, making sure young people get appropriate support from people they trust.

The work can be carried out by using an approach to encourage more adult volunteers and mentors.

I strongly agree with our Prime Minister when he says his vision and commitment is to invest more resources and to involve youngsters in making decisions for themselves, letting them decide their own priorities.

He said: "We need to listen carefully and put young people centre stage both in education and outside the school gates, with improved places for them to go before and after school, at weekends and in the holidays."

I strongly believe that locally we need to get our act together and start working on this strategy now before it’s too late.

Our council is providing services to young people but we are too far away from meeting demand.

Our current lack of investment in young people is a great concern.

We could reduce crime and unemployment if we have the correct investment and involvement of Rochdale’s young people.

In last week’s Talking Politics column Lib Dem council leader, Alan Taylor, rejected Labour government funding to help young people get a foot on the housing ladder.

Let’s hope he doesn’t do the same when it comes to youth services or we all lose out.

Labour Councillor Imtiaz Ahmed, Rochdale