Saturday the 27th November saw De Montfort University’s Youth and Community Division celebrate its 50th birthday, and I attended their anniversary conference to deliver the opening remarks.
Leicester has long been considered the birthplace of youth work in this country, and I am very proud that De Montfort is home to a renowned centre of excellence in this field.
Young people in Leicester West face some tough challenges during the months and years ahead due to the Tory/LibDem public spending cuts. Too often youth work is seen as an easy target where money can be saved, yet youth workers play a vital role in helping young people get the work, training and other opportunities they need to get on in life. It was a pleasure to meet so many committed students who were preparing to begin their careers working with young people.
