Many providers consider their training needs to be inadequately met, often due to lack of funds. Much of the work with Newham's young people happens in relative isolation with poor networking and information sharing between agencies. This research offers unprecedented access to information on the quantity, range and distribution of local services for young people. This information must be utilised by those who use, deliver, manage and fund services, to enable more effective use of existing provision and informed decisions about future services. It must also be added to - through regular maintenance of the database and effective evaluation of the impact of youth provision.
Young people are currently high on the agenda.
Given the new government's commitment to youth training, employment and education, and the high numbers and levels of need of young people in Newham, local policy makers and providers of youth services now have a unique window of opportunity. They must take their responsibility to young people seriously if the opportunities are not to be lost. We suggest ten areas for action. This is the summary of a report prepared by Aston CIU for the Newham Safer Cities Project. Information from the telephone survey has been incorporated into Newham's Directory of Resources - a computerised database of services and facilities for people living and working in the borough.