Youth Access calls on councils to ‘look at the evidence’
20 July, 2010
Youth Access has written to the Association of Directors of Children’s Services to set out the national evidence of YIACS effectiveness and tells councils not to see them as easy targets for cuts.
Local authorities must have proper regard to the value and effectiveness of services when deciding where to cut expenditure, Youth Access has told Directors of Children’s Services.
In a letter to the President of ADCS, Barbara Rayment, the youth advice and counselling network’s Director, sets out the robust and long-standing evidence base for the effectiveness of young people’s information, advice, counselling and support services (YIACS).
“The evidence base for YIACS is stronger than for any other similar means of delivery” said Barbara Rayment. “YIACS reach large numbers of young people, including many of the most disadvantaged, at low cost; they are effective at addressing complex needs across a broad age range; they achieve outstanding outcomes for young people; and they can contribute to a whole range of local authority policy objectives.”
The letter contains a detailed appendix of Government, independent and Youth Access research which attests to the outstanding outcomes that the YIACS model and the interventions that YIACS deliver.
Youth Access is calling on councils to work with them to sustain and develop YIACS to ensure that limited resources are spent most effectively, reaching those young people who most need help, where life-changing interventions can make the biggest savings to the public purse in the medium to long term.
The documents are available for download to assist you in any local campaigning you might undertake and to help us to spread the message of ‘Easing the Strain’, phase 2 of our Under Strain campaign.
Download the Evidence Appendix
What? Centre under threat
Youth Access member the What? Centre in Stourbridge have been told by their local council that they will cease funding the centre’s advice service from November this year, forcing its closure, including the counseling, sexual health and intensive support services after 25 successful years and many thousands of young people helped. Youth Access is working to support the What? Centre’s campaign to retain funding and you too can help. Please sign the online petition and register your support for the campaign and help the What? Centre get the 3000 signatures they seek.
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