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Young people are seeking identity

The poll of young people's attitudes to identity and diversity in a global age makes fascinating reading (Little Englanders will fail, July 8) but we are in danger of shooting the messengers - the young people themselves.

Against the background of greater population movement than ever before witnessed, we should expect young people to view today's dynamic and less predictable world with trepidation. It is not their so-called “little Englandism” that should be criticised but their honesty and appeal for help that needs to be commended.

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Background

• Public Opinion: Virginia Beardshaw

• Chucked in at the deep end

• Steps afoot to keep data safe

• What works for us

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This is not the voice of xenophobic youth, but instead a recognition of the complexities and insecurities attached to issues of identity and settlement in a globalised world. The challenge for our education system is substantial. Yes we need scientists, engineers and technicians, but our schools also need to focus on the creation of global citizens, equipped with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to thrive and survive in the 21st century: the prize for success is great; the cost of failure too high to contemplate.

Tony Breslin, chief executive, Citizenship Foundation

Parenting skills are vital

We have all manner of intrusions imposed on our lives by politicians, yet there is one aspect of significance to all of society that is completely unregulated - that of producing children. We ignore the importance of parenting skills in the upbringing of children, preferring instead to blame others - including children whose behaviour falls below the standards that society expects - and the vicious circle of antisocial behaviour is repeated.

Anthony G. Phillips, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Facing up to dementia

Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges facing our ageing population, yet there is an acute lack of understanding of the condition (More funds for dementia, July 1).

Early diagnosis of dementia is vital. It enables people to plan for the future, manage their symptoms and make the most of now. It is key to accessing specialist services and eliminating other conditions with similar symptoms, such as depression. Only a third of people with dementia get a diagnosis. We encourage people worried about their memory to seek medical advice and support GPs to diagnose. We need to ensure that people with dementia get the care they need and deserve.

Neil Hunt, chief executive, Alzheimer's Society

Children in custody

The Prison Reform Trust report is timely and identifies how the system utterly fails children in custody (Too many children are ending up in cust-ody, July 8). It also makes welcome recommendations on raising the age of criminal responsibility and on developing non-criminal justice interventions to prevent offending.

We are keen to shift the budget for youth custody to local authorities and have worked with the Local Government Association over the past two years to explore how local government might better divert children from custody. Structural change is not enough. Careful consideration must be given to providing communities, led by local authorities, the means to deliver community solutions that prevent crime. Local flexibility and budgets should be placed in a national framework of excellence, which could be determined by the Youth Justice Board.

Andrew Neilson, assistant director, The Howard League for Penal Reform

New take on public services

LAST week you reported that “the UK lags behind” in involving users in public services (Service users hold the key, July 8). Three weeks ago we hosted a global conference with the OECD on this subject and the findings couldn't have been more different.

Sure we lag behind the US in terms of innovative involvement, but we are ahead of

almost all other countries by this measure. We are also

slower at institutionalising these processes than the Scandinavians, but again we come a close second. In terms of the traction user-involvement has on policy and delivery, the UK has an enviable record. Taken together the UK is now seen by many to be a global leader in this field.

Richard Wilson, director, Involve

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