Lobbying & policy work

The Make Space campaign delivers on the core objectives of the Every Child Matters and Youth Matters frameworks. Make Space centres have a pivotal role to play in supporting young people to achieve their potential, offering high quality opportunities and with extra support and intervention for those who need it most. A key Make Space objective is to create 3,000 Make Space centres by 2010.

To achieve this goal, substantial input is required from central and local government. Make Space is at the forefront of lobbying Government, parliamentarians and the wider policy sector on behalf of young people and their families. Our wide range of information and lobbying activities include policy conferences, research, advertising, PR, party conference fringes and regular mailings to MPs.

The Government’s youth strategy has delivered on many of the Make Space campaign objectives and demonstrates that the campaign has been successful in delivering a step change in funding for youth services by Government. The implementation of the Government’s Aiming High for Young People ten year strategy for youth, launched in July 2007, will go a huge way in responding to the specific recommendations of the Make Space Youth Review.

The ten year strategy includes:

• £190 million of myplace funding available over the next three years to transform local services and deliver exciting youth facilities - driven by what young people want and need
• Existing community assets including extended schools and youth clubs will receive transformation funds to provide a youth offer
• New funds for community volunteering projects, intergenerational projects and community mentoring
• A workforce development programme

Go to the Useful Links section to find more information on Every Child Matters, Youth Matters, and Aiming High for Young People.