Hampshire County Youth Service

Summary of progress with the Youth Service County Action Plan 2001-2002

A review of the targets established in the County Action Plan demonstrates that the Service is making good progress towards achieving all the targets and planned outcomes.

A summary of this progress is shown below. Sections and numbers refer to the targets and reference numbers in the County Action Plan.

1 Personal and Social Skills

1.1 All districts are responding well to the five priority aims.

1.2 New centres for Duke of Edinburgh's Award work have been opened and additional opportunities are being created for young people. Progress on young people achieving their award has been inhibited by the foot and mouth crisis.

1.3 More than 80 young people have been involved in the Youth Offending Team Duke of Edinburgh's Award project. To date none have re-offended.

1.4 Accreditation projects are being developed in all districts.

1.5 External funding has been secured from the New Opportunities Fund to develop new projects with 11-13 year olds in partnership with schools, and the Early Education Unit £180,000 across three years.

2 Democracy and Decision Making

2.1 The annual survey for young people provided valuable information and statistics, which has informed evaluation and planning.

2.2 County Youth Council is working well and involved in a wide range of work.

2.3 Youth Forums are being developed in all districts. Many are represented on the County Youth Council.

2.4 Young people's conference was being planned for November 2001, but has been postponed to spring 2002.

3 Social Inclusion

3.1 All districts are providing projects for young people who have become disengaged from education and/or their local community

3.2 All districts are providing specific projects, which enable young people to avoid crime and learn how to manage themselves effectively.

3.3 Projects are being developed in all districts and are being designed to link with the developing Connexions Strategy.

3.4 Close working arrangements have been developed between youth workers and Connexions pilot projects, for example at the I-Stop centre in Gosport.

3.5 Eleven Lifelong projects have been established for young adults (18-25). External funding of £60,000 for 2001-2002 been secured form the Learning and Skills Council.

4 New Opportunities and Challenging Experiences

4.1 All districts are providing a programme of new opportunities and challenging experiences

4.2 Projects are being developed with schools, for example the 11-13s after school projects and with County Council services and other agencies, e.g. school inclusion projects. Youth Service profile is much higher and the service is contributing to planning work with other departments.

4.3 All districts are providing residential opportunities for young people. Residentials are often combined with outdoor education activities.

4.4 Cultural events have been planned and are being delivered through Youth Service projects.

5 Healthy Lifestyles

5.1 All youth workers have access to healthy lifestyles information and young people are involved in regular and special projects.

5.2 Work with other agencies has increased with Primary Care Trusts and District Councils for example. New projects are being developed in Test Valley, Gosport and other districts.

5.3 The Youth Service drugs education and incident policy has been approved and is being implemented.

5.4 Additional drugs education work in youth clubs and information, advice and youth counselling projects have been developed.

5.5 The Service is contributing to the development of the new Drugs Action Team in Hampshire. Additional drugs education work has been established with young people through information and advice projects.

6 Employment and Staff Development

6.1 Priority sections of the Staff Development Policy are being put into place.

6.2 Another 20 part time youth workers gained qualified status in the summer. The percentage of qualified staff is difficult to maintain because of staff progression to other careers and employers.

6.2 The Service continues to recruit and support volunteers, many of whom become qualified part time youth workers.

6.4 14 Youth Workers in Training are being supported by the County Youth Service and will become fully qualified in 2003 or 2004.

7 Development and training

7.1 Training courses and development

7.2 opportunities are being provided as planned,

7.3 and new courses are made available in response to the needs of the Service.

8 Financial Resources

8.1 The Youth Service base budget was increased by £150,000 in 2001/2. This has been allocated to youth work in districts and, as a result, additional work with young people at risk is being carried out through new or existing projects and extended work.

8.2 Additional funding from external sources is being attracted. Examples include £60,000 in 2001/2002 for young adult learning opportunities from the Learning and Skills Council; £180,000 across three years from the New Opportunities Fund for additional work with 11-13 year olds through after school clubs.

8.3 The grant aid to voluntary youth organisations budget of £195,600 is being allocated to support the development of new work and annual revenue costs in keeping with the Youth Service's priority aims.

9 Resources and Administration

9.1 The programme of improvements to Youth Service buildings is continuing in partnership with Property Services. Improvement of Totton Youth Centre is the top priority in 2001/2002

9.2 The planning, recording and quarterly reporting systems are well established. A new Information Officer appointment was made in June 2001 and improved arrangements for recording and using management information are being developed.

9.3 Information and Communications Technology is available to all relevant staff. The service is introducing Outlook and Hantsnet 2000 to district offices and other staff, in co-operation with IT Services.

10 Quality Assurance an Evaluation

10.1 Monitoring and evaluation of youth work is being improved alongside the new arrangements for management information. (see 9.2 above).

10.2 The quality assurance system is being adapted as a result of the new Ofsted structure for inspecting youth work

10.3 Plans are being developed for revising the Youth Service Strategic Development Plan, drawing on the results of Best Value reviews, and seeking approval for a new Strategic Plan for 2003-2006.

Colin Smith

Youth Service Manager

October 2001