A report said that teenagers were being let down by inconsistent and unreliable services, according to a consultation with young people about activities and support available in their community. More co-ordination was needed across services for young people, and there was also a need to rethink the professional skills of those working with teenagers.
Source: Laura Edwards and Becky Hatch, Passing Time: A report about young people and communities, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Report (pdf) | IPPR press release | Community Care article | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Dec
A report said that the United Kingdom was well placed in the development of a lifelong guidance system as a key component of its policies on lifelong learning, labour market policy and welfare. However, while impressive steps had been taken in recent years to improve ease of access to career guidance, more needed to be done to improve its transparency.
Source: OECD Review of Career Guidance Policies: United Kingdom country note, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (+33 1 4524 8200)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
A research report sought to define 'personal and social development' in the context of the work of the Connexions youth service.
Source: Young Adult Learners Partnership, Explaining Personal and Social Development, Research Report 480, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
A research report found that there was sometimes a lack of clarity among young people about the role and purpose of the Connexions service, even among those who had used it.
Source: Lucy Joyce, Clarissa White and Abi Franses, Improve your Connexions: Qualitative research with young people, Research Report 481, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
A report evaluated the development of the role (and corresponding deployment strategies) of Connexions personal advisers, and the extent to which their training was effective in preparing them for their diverse functions.
Source: John Rodger and Kerry Marwood, Formative Research into the Deployment, Role and Training of Connexions Personal Advisers, Research Report RBX 14-03, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (Word file) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
Researchers found some evidence that the cost of delivering youth services in rural areas is higher than in urban ones, but said that more work is needed before this can be substantiated.
Source: P. Bradley and P. Barratt, Study of the Relative Costs Associated with Delivering the Connexions Service in Rural and Urban Areas, Research Report 390, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb