Nursery World - Youth clubs 'lead to failure and crime'

Children who hang out aimlessly at youth clubs are more likely to fail at school and turn to crime or drug addiction, children's minister Margaret Hodge claimed last week. Speaking at the Institute of Public Policy Research, Mrs Hodge said young people would be better off at home watching television than at a club that just offers 'a place to go'.

Speaking at the Institute of Public Policy Research, Mrs Hodge said young people would be better off at home watching television than at a club that just offers 'a place to go'.

She said, 'Just hanging out not only does nothing for young people, but the research tells us it can have negative outcomes.'

A study carried out by the Institute of Education at London University on behalf of the Government analyses the impact of youth activities on a group of several thousand people born in the 1970s. It is due to be published in late February alongside the Green Paper for Youth.

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