Critics have voiced concern over the Government’s recent green paper “Youth Matters” for failing to address the spiritual needs of youth and downplaying the valuable contribution of Christian youth work, reports Young People Now.
The Government’s green paper Youth Matters, published in July, aims to use an opportunity card system as a financial incentive for teenagers to behave well, in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour among youths.Critics have expressed their disappointment with Youth Matters for failing to acknowledge the role of faith-based projects and criticised the concept of an opportunity card. The Government’s green paper limits its reference to such projects within the context of the voluntary sector in providing volunteering opportunities or access to space or facilities.
John Baxter-Brown, executive officer for youth work, Churches Together in England, complemented Youth Matters for creating “good opportunities for youth workers in the statutory and voluntary sector to engage with policy”.
He voiced his concern, however, over the idea of rewarding volunteers through the proposed opportunity cards.
“In Christian youth work, serving the community is in itself rewarding. If we pay young people then it is cheapened,” said Mr Baxter-Brown.
“The idea of a material reward will risk cheapening volunteering that should be about being proud of our society and communities and building beneficial relationships.”
Mr Baxter-Brown also called for greater acknowledgement of the important contribution made by faith groups and inter-faith work, particularly following the July terrorist attacks in London.In Christian youth work, serving the community is in itself rewarding. If we pay young people then it is cheapened.
John Baxter-Brown, Executive Officer for Youth Work, CTE
He said: “Spiritual development and education is just as important as cultural, political, social and personal education. If you miss spirituality, you miss out on holistic youth work.”
Mr Baxter-Brown said it was important to give every young person a safe place to explore spiritual questions but criticised the language of the green paper for being one of “business and bureaucracy, rather than that of relationships”.
“Businesses like outcomes, but young people need safe, trusting relationships with adults, which is a huge part of youth work no matter what services there are.”
David Wiles, chief executive of the Frontier Youth Trust, also criticised the opportunity cards, posing the question: “What will the paper do for general youth work practice, such as giving them safe places to grow and develop, rather than just be consumers through the opportunity card system?”
Mr Wiles said the best place to give information, advice and guidance to a child “is in the context of a secure and comfortable adult/child relationship”.
“Young people just want someone to accompany them or help them through the tough decisions in life,” he said.
Church of England Diocese of Manchester Youth Officer, Andy Poole, commended the government for involving young people and making them “stakeholders in actually shaping their own provision and opportunities”. He also welcomed the green paper for the support it will give vulnerable young people and for raising the profile of the voluntary sector and of volunteering.
Mr Poole criticised the paper, however, for its lack of emphasis on values, contrasting it with Every Child Matters.
“It doesn’t always address community cohesion, issues of difference or enable different groups to have mutual respect. Volunteering is only one aspect of it. It feels like the emphasis is on the individual rather than groups,” he said.
“What’s interesting is that there is an emphasis in Every Child Matters on making a positive contribution and developing positive relationships, but I don’t see a lot about that here.”
Mr Poole said the faith-based youth work sector has “a lot to contribute in helping young people explore values and shape values and the Government has missed a trick in not including more about values”.
According to Churches Together in England, the Christian youth sector employs around 6,500 youth workers, works with an estimated one million young people a week and invests at least £100m into youth work, making Christians a crucial prop to the Government in the care and development of youth in Britain.
