Youth Access

Young people’s access to advice ‘disturbingly poor’

26 October, 2009

Young people need more community-based advice services that are independent and young person-centred

Young People’s Access to Advice – The Evidence is a major new research report published today by Youth Access to coincide with both the release of a new Government strategy for information, advice and guidance services and the launch of a new campaign seeking improved access to legal services for children and young people.

The report’s key findings include that:
•    Young people’s access to advice is disturbingly poor – they are considerably less likely to get advice (or to get good advice) than the general population.
•    Many young people lack the skills and knowledge that are required for successful advice-seeking and experience significant psychological barriers to getting advice.
•    Young people want to get advice from services that are informal, confidential and focussed on young people; and from individual advisers whom they can trust and who can offer powerful independent assistance to resolve their complex problems.
•    The available evidence challenges common assumptions about young people’s use of technology to get advice.
•    Existing policy and services – both in the youth and the ‘mainstream’ adult advice sectors – are currently failing to meet young people’s social welfare needs and would benefit from greater collaboration and joint-working.
 
The report’s findings, based on robust research evidence, including data from the Civil and Social Justice Survey, provide strong support for the policy calls made today by JustRights, the campaign for fair access to legal services for children and young people.

Read JustRights press release

Youth Access’ report also provides important evidence to assist local authorities needing to implement the new national strategy for young people’s information, advice and guidance services, which is expected to be unveiled by Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, later today.

Read the report Young People’s Access to Advice – The Evidence

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