Young PeopleTime and again we hear politicians and commentators call young people apathetic and uninterested in the world around them.
But the last few years have shown how wrong they are. Young people were to the fore of the anti-war movement. School students walked out of classes all over the country to oppose the invasion of Iraq.
Young people on every continent have been involved in the massive anti-capitalist protests over the last seven years, and have been demonstrating their enthusiasm and determination to build a better world. But they have little time for the established political parties and politicians, whom they see as shallow and cynical.
Young people are constantly ignored by those in power – whether it’s about vital issues of world peace or the protection of the environment or on those issues that directly impinge on their lives, such as work, education and leisure.
Respect believes that all young people have a part to play in forging a future for all of us.
We believe that everybody should be able to vote from the age of 16. We welcome the Power Commission report in this respect. But involvement in decision-making goes much further than simply voting. We want to see young people have their say at school, work and in the community. At the moment, young people are largely ignored and then criticised when they appear alienated or disgruntled by the way they are treated. At work and in education special provision should be made to give young people their say.
More and more young people are forced to live at home, even when they go to university, because of the exorbitant cost of housing. It is almost impossible for young people to become first-time buyers because of spiralling house prices.
Young people are generally saddled with debt as they enter work and think of starting a family.
We need decent jobs for all those who leave education at decent rates of pay. There should be no lower minimum wage for young people. They should be paid the same as anyone else doing the same job. There must be far more apprenticeships. Every young person who wants to stay in education should be able to, not be put off by tuition fees, student loans or inadequate grants.
There is a growing tension on housing estates and in public areas where young people are forced to congregate and socialise on the streets. However, we believe that this is due to over-crowded homes and the increasing privatisation of our public areas and facilities.
We have seen a large number of council and voluntary-run centres privatised or closed.
Private centres now focus on adult fitness facilities to maximise income, dramatically reducing the opportunities for individual and team sports for young people.
In every city, town and village facilities for young people have been closed – youth clubs, affordable sports centres, cheap cinemas – yet when young people dare to socialise with their friends in public they are criticised and condemned for anti-social behaviour.
Respect believes the constant denigration of young people must stop. We oppose the growing use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and “good behaviour agreements” by the police and local councils – generally against young people from working class estates. These are an attack on civil liberties and often a fast track to criminalisation. They pose no solution to the problems young people and the rest of society face.
Respect calls for a fully funded youth service and massive investment in community and youth facilities. Respect believes the focus should be on investing in young people and their abilities rather than focusing on them as a crime issue.
RESPECT CALLS FOR:
- Votes at 16.
- A fully funded youth service.
- Alternatives to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.
- Increased investment into community facilities; end the privatisation of such services.
- Decent, secure jobs at adult rates of pay.
- Investment in apprenticeships, with jobs on completion.
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