Annual Conference: Lisa Martinali, champion for children and young people

Lisa is the director for community regeneration for Castle Vale Community Regeneration Services. She chaired a group that discussed how the financial cuts and the new government are likely to affect children and young people.

The group spoke about the Future Jobs Fund, which is for young people who are unemployed and has been scrapped.

• They wondered what it would be replaced with, because there will be many jobless young people - in particular considering the likely cuts to the Department of Work and Pensions.
• They talked about where or when will organisations see the outcomes of the money spent through Brighter Futures, which is a strategy for young peoples' health.
• Spoke about the need for advocacy for family support.

The group also discussed collaboration - and what the third sector could bring to the table. They said:

• We need to be representative
• It is important to provide evidence of outcomes.