“The Youth Charter for Sport began five years ago with a mission to address the growing sense of disaffection amongst a significant number of young people. The growing anti-social youth culture - manifested in truancy, school exclusions, youth crime, for example - impacts the whole community and further compounds the sense of isolation from mainstream society for individual young people. The sense of exclusion can, in some cases, last a lifetime, at great cost to the individual and society. ‘Youthwise’ is the progression of Youth Charter for Sport’s mission, philosophy and expertise in this area, aimed at halting this negative cycle at source. I continue to endorse that philosophy, a philosophy and a message that has gone on to be adopted worldwide. Throughout the past five years we have accomplished much and there have been increasing demands upon the organisation, but it leaves us with the experience to deliver our expertise to our young people, many of whom are affected by growing social problems within our society. The Youthwise programme was strongly endorsed by the Government at Old Trafford on 31st May, 1997. Furthermore I understand that at the “Building a Nation through Sport” conference, which was held in advance of the main Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October there were numerous expressions of interest, reinforcing our belief in the worldwide demand to adopt the YCS philosophy, aims and objectives. 1998 will celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Youth Charter for Sport and I sincerely hope the project will receive the support necessary to enable us to give our young people the opportunities and experiences through sport that they so justly deserve.”