An International Model for Developing Capacity for Addressing the Needs of ‘At Risk’ Youth: A French–English Affaire?

This article describes a bi-national project planned with Interreg (European) funding involving communities in Kent and Nord Pas-de-Calais. The focus is on ‘at risk’ youth and training and supporting personnel, and action to address the needs of this client group. The differences in the two systems mean that the forms of the project are different on the two sides of the Channel and the ways of proceeding are necessarily dictated by local cultural imperatives and conditions; the French centralised system where core services are enhanced to deal with new or increasing problems confronts the English style of short-term projects made up of alliances of agencies and community groups working in partnership with schools.