An independent evaluation of Young Lancashire has drawn very positive feedback with more than 80% of interviewees saying it has made a difference to their work with groups of young people. So what difference has Young Lancashire made over the past five years? The top six measurable impacts are listed below and to read a full version of the evaluation report please visit: The Difference We Make - December 2012

CYP Now has published a survey on the future of youth provision, which has 110 responses. It found that one in three organisations that provide services to young people felt it was possible they would face closure within the next 12 months. Over half of respondents said their income had fallen in the past year, more than a quarter said it had stayed roughly the same and 16.2 per cent reported an increase. More than two thirds of organisation have reduced spending on new equipment and over half have reduced staff levels, trips and off-site visits.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has published the latest edition of DBS news. It provides more information on the update service, which is designed to enable a form of portability of DBS (formerly CRB) checks. This is now scheduled to be launched in the summer. Visit: http://seis.purlsmail.com

The public sector trade union Unison has published A better start for young people: the UNISON agenda - a manifesto for young people. It said it was "worried that the damage done to young people as a result of cuts to their services, job opportunities and financial support is being ignored". It polled 1,411 young people aged 17 to 25 and found that only 41 per cent felt optimistic about the future. One in 10 said it had taken them more than a year to find a job and 15 per cent said they had debts of more than £20,000.