MANY parents reading this may disagree, but inside the most truculent teenager there is a responsible adult waiting to get out.

I know that at times they seem to speak a different language, but sit down and talk to a young person and you’ll find that their preoccupations and priorities are pretty much the same as those of someone in middle or later life – jobs and money, crime and personal safety, the environment and the state of the place they live in.

Just as older people with their wisdom and life experience are a woefully underrated resource, younger people with their fresh outlook and enthusiasm don’t have enough of a say in how their communities develop.

That’s why in Middlesbrough today we’re launching the Youth Offer, which spells out what the council and its partners are doing to support young people and help them reach their personal goals and how we are giving them a say in the development of services.

But it’s about putting something back, too.

It’s an offer and a contract. With influence comes responsibility and we want this to be a springboard for more young people getting involved in voluntary and community work, making a contribution as citizens.

We aren’t starting from scratch. In our community, just as in yours, there are scores of young people putting something back into society. They far outnumber the wreckers and spoilers though, sadly, they occupy fewer column inches. Today is about giving them a chance to grow in strength, numbers and influence.

I am sure they’ll seize the moment.

THE transition from symbol to working politician is a painful one. In the next few days, Barack Obama will face the US mid-term elections where he is widely expected to lose control of Congress. If that happens, it seems certain he’ll spin out the rest of his presidency as a lame duck.

Obama gave his latest interview on The Daily Show, the equivalent, I suppose, of David Cameron appearing on Rory Bremner.

There weren’t many laughs, but Obama still looked up for the challenge.

It used to be said of John F Kennedy when he was in office that he looked and acted as if he was born to the job. Despite everything, Obama still looks a natural leader. I still hope he succeeds, for himself and everyone inspired by his election. I shudder at some of his opponents and their views on the world – and not just for Americans either.

TALKING of icons, it would be remiss of me not to welcome Tony Mowbray back to Middlesbrough. I know you should be careful what you wish for and that being the fans’ favourite doesn’t guarantee success. But you would have to be a fully paid-up pessimist not to feel the buzz about the town since the news broke. I hope that tomorrow’s result is the one everyone outside of Bristol is hoping for.

The episode also illustrates how fortunate the Boro are to have a chairman like Steve Gibson – someone who knows where the manager’s job ends and that of the chairman begins, who listens to supporters, and isn’t afraid to take responsibility or decisions.

It’s also worth mentioning that Gordon Strachan emerged with some credit from this affair. Whatever his record as manager, he left the job with his dignity intact.

In a week when the tacky, stage-managed stay-or-go saga of Wayne Rooney dragged the game – sorry, multi-million pound business – to new depths, it reminded us not everyone’s values have been kicked into touch.