The outcomes required from activities are complex and need to be Ofsted friendly but broadly we could consider the following:

To encourage an equal mix of boys and girls. Providing mainly sport and arguing that this appeals equally is disingenuous.

The justification for table tennis and pool is usually this is what we can afford but no one opens a shop and stocks it with what they can afford. They start with what the public wants (you’d hope).

We need to start with what young people really want and need. Then we can be creative and consider how we might be able to afford this or how we can provide something similar.

Diversion for young men can be useful but if possible we want to provide activities on a sliding scale between play and training. Music is a good example. You can sing alone or sing together and record it, or mix it into a record, or produce a more complicated version, or do all this and put on a performance.

Usually the problem is not finding what young people want it is working out how to deliver it in a safe and affordable way. However it is difficult to get them to consider other ideas. Running taster sessions can help with this.

Delivery is important. The days of youth-workers being asked to deliver the more complicated formats should be receding. Sessional workers can help but other delivery organisations are more likely to provide quality and consistency.