As the heavens continue to open and the cats, dogs and, no doubt, frogs and locusts continue to plague our sodden county, it is perhaps a good time to give thanks to all the dedicated individuals whose endeavours keep the majority safe and sound.

It is also time to spare a thought for those without homes, let alone flooded ones.

In this climate of continued austerity, the skies appear to be reflecting the general mood of pessimism and fear, unless you are a banker or already independently wealthy, that is, and impervious to economic variance.

The latest news on the “We’re in this together” cuts front, is the sad but not unexpected announcement on the likelihood of many of our youth centres and valued youth workers potentially being forsaken in order to uphold the erroneous bonus culture in the financial sector.

To be fair to Wiltshire Council, it has not only held off these decisions longer than some other county and unitary councils, but has historically been very supportive of not only our young, but the whole community in general.

Our work in Kandu takes us up and down the country, so we are in the unusual position of being able to compare and contrast the performances of many authorities and I am happy to say that Wiltshire compares admirably.

I have had the opportunity as an advisor to the Department of Culture to sit at the Home Office and discuss effective practice in community cohesion arenas with professionals and practitioners from all around the country.

I have felt a sense of quiet satisfaction and, dare I say, pride, when comparing working practice and procedures with other local authorities, with those that I have witnessed in Wiltshire.

So, I cannot criticise our council or lay the blame for these latest potential youth cuts at the door of the county administration. It would be neither helpful nor accurate to apportion such responsibility when my countrywide experience tells me different.

But if the cuts do happen and youth centres and youth workers are sacrificed, who or what is going to fill the void? Who will they turn to and where will they go?

The young, particularly teenagers, have never truly been valued in any meaningful way. They have untapped strength without any significant power and can be called upon to fight and die at an age before they are even considered responsible enough to vote.

Perhaps if our young were given the vote at an earlier age (16 for instance, when they can fight for the country, or legally become parents) successive governments might take their needs and views more seriously.

Surely if the youth services are significantly cut, it will be an ideal time for the rest of our community to stand together and do what is needed to ensure our young are not abandoned and left without the help, guidance and support that we know they will need in these ever harder times?

The opportunities of work and independent living are ever harder to come by and safe affordable (dry) places for young people to congregate and socialise will soon be almost a thing of the past.

It may be worth keeping an eye on the anti-social crime figures and other quality of life indicators and see if there are any real savings to be made by, on the one hand cutting youth provision whilst on the other, increasing the negative spend on vandalism, court time and prison.

I am not suggesting the young will somehow become feral, but we all remember the saying about the devil and idle hands.