Something for Something: A national youth action programme

Article

This paper explores some of the issues arising from the debate surrounding youth action, and how youth action might best be promoted.

The aim of this paper is to present arguments for how effective and progressive public policy on youth action might be developed.

We briefly outline our understanding of civil renewal and recommend that civil renewal could be a strong motivating idea to guide the future development of youth action.

In the second section, we look at current youth action policy and practice, highlighting lessons from the United States (US), Europe and the UK. We identify a range of policy objectives that lie behind these programmes.

In the third section we consider the implications of our analysis for public policy. We address the key high-level policy questions which need to be addressed by government and outline three potential youth action programmes.

Related items

  1. West Midlands Metro Tram at Victoria Square in Birmingham city centre during 2022 Commonwealth Games

    Transport and growth: Reforming transport investment for place-based growth

    The ability to deliver transformative public transport is not constrained by a lack of ideas, public support or local ambition. It is constrained by the way decisions are taken at the national level.
  2. A view of Glasgow, Scotland, from above.

    More than a safety net: The welfare state as springboard to economic success and a better country

    A perceived conflict between social spending and economic dynamism is deeply embedded in both Scottish and UK political discourse.
  3. The Home Office building in London

    Far from settled: The government’s ‘earned settlement’ consultation

    How long should people have to wait until they can permanently settle in the UK? This is the core question underpinning the Home Office’s ‘earned settlement’ policy, currently out for consultation.