YOU’RE only young once.
And the things you learn and the skills you pick up during those developing years will often shape the adult you become.
Since 2010, local authority spending on youth had reduced by 73 per cent, which means that more than £1bn less was being spent on young people every year.
It was a conscious decision by the Conservatives not to make that investment – but now Labour is turning things around with the National Youth Strategy.
With the launch of the strategy, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working across government to put young people back in charge of their own destiny, making sure they have access to meaningful choices and chances.
It is intended to be fit for the decade ahead and to provide young people with the services and opportunities that will help them to reach their potential.
The initiative will cover ages 10 to 19 and up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
I hope this is an ambition we can all get behind.
Just before Christmas I enjoyed visiting Walney Community Trust on Amphitrite Street where I met general manager Cheryl Shields and chair Jeff Chadd.
The team at the trust do a fantastic job with young people on the island – and help other members of the community in lots of ways.
And I know there are other organisations that are involved with youth groups – among them Drop Zone, Project John, the Brathay Trust, Art4All CIC and Women’s Community Matters whose staff work with young people.
To that you can add church and faith groups, Brownies, Cubs, Scouts, Girl Guides, the Sea, Army and Navy Cadets, loads of sports clubs and many more.
Labour wants to hear from young people directly and we are launching one of the most ambitious listening exercises for a generation.
It has the title Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Nation and its aim is to provide young people with a genuine voice, delivering on our Plan for Change and creating opportunities in every part of the country.
I’m encouraging young people across Barrow and Furness to contribute if they can. This will help the government have access to a broad range of views in shaping the strategy.
To find out more about the strategy please go to https:www.gov.uk/government/news/new-national-youth-strategy-to-break-down-barriers-to-opportunity-for-young-people
