Other youth related news and resources

UNISON has published a report on the UK’s youth services, looking at how cuts are removing opportunities for young people and damaging their lives. The report states that between 2012 and 2014 around 350 youth centres have closed as a result of the cuts; 41,000 youth service places for young people have been cuts; more than 2000 jobs have been lost and 35,000 hours of outreach work by youth workers removed; and 85 percent of UNISON members reported that the cuts and austerity had caused particularly acute problems for young people for poorer backgrounds. To download the report visit www.unison.org.uk/upload/sharepoint/On%20line%20Catalogue/22532.pdf.

The impact report into the National Citizens Service, the government's flagship youth volunteering scheme in 2013, commissioned by the Cabinet Office and carried out by Ipsos Mori, found it cost £49million for its summer programme and £13million for the autumn programme. In 2013, 31,738 young people took part in the NCS summer programme and 7,828 in autumn. The programme is expected to have 90,000 places available this year. The cost per young person to take part in the scheme has gone down from £1,700 in 2012, to £1,550 per participant in the summer and £1,650 in the autumn programmes. To download the report visit www.ipsos-mori.com/DownloadPublication/1692_SRI-National-Citizen-Service-2013-evaluation-main-report-August2014.PDF.

The Young Social Action Ambassadors network has been launched by the government and Step Up To Serve. The 60 young people in this network will help find exceptional examples of volunteers from across the UK who will work to support and encourage volunteering. For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/step-up-to-serve-and-cabinet-office-launch-young-social-action-ambassadors.

On Friday 21 November, the Office of the Children's Commissioner will lead on a takeover day. Organisations across all sectors are invited to give the children and young people they work with the chance to work with adults for the day and be involved in decision-making. For further information visit www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/takeover_day.

The Office of the Children's Commissioner for England has published two invitations to tender. The deadline for Young children and families experience of services aimed at reducing the impact of low income is Monday 1 September and for A survey of children in care and care leavers for the Children's Care Monitor 2014/15 is Thursday 4 September. To download the tender documents visit www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_858 and www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_855.

The NSPCC has launched a new, free helpline service for people who are concerned about a child or young person who is already, or risks becoming, involved in a gang. For further information visit www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28840283?ocid=socialflow_twitter.

The Barrow Cadbury Trust, the Lankelly Chase Foundation and the Pilgrim Trust have published a review of the risk factors associated with negative outcomes, e.g.  offending, homelessness, prostitution and exploitation, for girls and women. Findings include that risk tends to accumulate over a lifetime and women with the poorest outcomes experienced abuse in childhood and adulthood. For further information visit www.lankellychase.org.uk/news_events/477_women_and_girls_at_risk_evidence_across_the_life_course. To download the review visit www.lankellychase.org.uk/assets/0000/2675/Women___Girls_at_Risk_-_Evidence_Review_040814.pdf and www.lankellychase.org.uk/assets/0000/2676/Women___Girls_at_Risk_-_Key_Messages_Summary_040813.pdf.