Alex (Alex’s story is true but to protect his identity we have changed his name and used a YMCA model) is 14 and right now in his life is getting into regular difficulty with other boys and with the police. His relationship with his step dad is terrible and just descends into abuse and shouting at every opportunity. He has learning difficulties and having been told for many years that he is useless he is now acting out that belief. He doesn't attend S4 in school that much and often gets into trouble for this.
So what should we be doing with guys like Alex? Is he a 14 year old to fear or is he a 14 year old to help?
YMCA is very experienced and skilled in engaging these young people in an honest, trusting and valued relationship, often the first time they have experienced this.
“A firm steer at this age is vitally important, particularly for vulnerable young men”
We know by now that we are in a recession or at least that we will be suffering from the effects of that recession for several years to come as the cuts in public services land.
We have never been more concerned than we are now, at the services to young people that are being reviewed, reduced and cut altogether. As local authorities in Scotland cut their cloth, they fund statutory provision like schools and roads etc but youth work, which is not something they absolutely have to deliver, is being decimated.
Yet, a local authority manager this week told us that her greatest need was for facilities and staff to engage vulnerable young people in local communities!
So how over the next few years are we ever going to be able to help people like Alex? Certainly we can only conclude that YMCA will have to rely more and more on the generosity of individuals to enable us to support as many vulnerable young people as we can.
As YMCA Scotland increasingly focuses its work on the growing needs of young men we know we can turn these lives around. The anti-social behaviour, the alcohol and drugs, the attitudes to authority...these are all things we can work with, these are all things we can change. It's just a question of what we can afford to do.
At a time when we are seeing the need to focus on young men, when we really need to prevent another generation of offenders emerging, it is truly dangerous that public funding is being cut. Turning away from this need will create real problems later on but more importantly will allow young men like Alex to throw away their lives.
Will you give £30 to ensure there is support for vulnerable young people, like Alex?
It's crucial that we act to intervene in these young lives. We know that we can deliver this. Please help us to do so.
