Archived decisions

Contact: Steve Willis, Senior Youth Worker, Tel:023 8025 5172

1 Summary

1.1 This report provides information about youth service work in the Eastleigh District, including references to significant achievements, key issues being addressed, current work and planned developments. A list of current Youth Service projects and other networks, is attached as appendices.

2. Background

2.1 Eastleigh town is the administrative and commercial centre of a Borough with a population of around 114,000, which includes approximately 20,000 young people between the ages of 13 and 19. Covering an area of more than 19,000 acres, the Eastleigh District stretches from Chandlers Ford in the north to Hamble in the south. It includes Bishopstoke and the parishes of Fair Oak, West End, Hedge End, Botley, Bursledon, Hound (Netley) and Hamble-le-Rice.

2.2 The Eastleigh District benefits from low unemployment and diverse employment opportunities, and young people from the area attend seven secondary schools and two further education colleges in Hampshire.

2.3 The Youth Service team in the Eastleigh District is made up of four full time and 25 part-time youth work staff. At present, each of the four full-time staff have a responsibility for a geographical area, including a building based provision and a detached team. Work is also undertaken in some of the secondary schools focusing on a personal, social and health education programme, and supporting young people at the risk of exclusion.

2.4 Within the Eastleigh District, the Youth Service enjoys good partnership working with Eastleigh Borough Council, many voluntary organisations and other agencies.

2.5 Consultation with young people is core to Youth Service work and a range of approaches is used.

2.6 Consultation with both young people and the wider community including agencies, organisations and services working with young people has identified the need for:

_ safe places for young people to meet

_ the development of detached youth work teams

_ continued development of one stop shops throughout Eastleigh District

_ improved transport facilities

_ reducing the number of abusive incidents involving young people

_ implementing the Connexions strategy

_ reviewing and developing the Community Safety Strategy for the next three years.

2.7 It is intended that these needs, along with those identified as national and County priority areas, will be addressed throughout the forthcoming year in the Eastleigh District.

Summary review of Eastleigh District work

2 Curriculum

3.1 Personal and social skills

3.1.1 Young people in Eastleigh participated in the summer activity programme, which began with a fun packed day at Marwell Activity Centre followed by a two day residential, followed by weekly sessions with staff from the Youth Service, VT Careers Management Southern and Eastleigh Action for Skills. It is pleasing to report that the young people who engaged in this programme are all now engaged in education, training or work.

3.2 Democracy and decision making

3.2.1 This year the District has seen two further youth forums being developed, one in Hedge End and the other in Hamble. Within the Bishopstoke / Fair Oak area a youth action group is being developed with the purpose of engaging in the development of a new purpose built youth centre funded by the Borough Council and Parish Council. Representatives of Hedge End Youth Town Council also sit on the County Youth Council, which is proving to be a positive experience.

3.2.2 Young people in Chandlers Ford, with support from the detached team, have been involved in discussions with officers of the Borough Council about best use of £10,000 which has been allocated to the Fryern Recreation ground.

3.3 Social Inclusion

3.3.1 The `Street Talk' detached project across Eastleigh is moving from strength to strength and developing strong links with Hampshire Police and other agencies. The project is responsive to problems caused by young people as well as advocating strongly on their behalf for improved resources within their communities. So far several shelters, skating ramps and additional support for mini bus costs, as well as a new mini bus being purchased for the Youth Service use by Hedge End Youth Work Support Group have been acquired.

3.3.2 `Street Talk' Eastleigh District has been successful in receiving £28,000 from Communities Against Drugs (CAD) to purchase and equip a further minibus to support youth work delivery.

3.3.3 The `Taking Control' project has continued to develop in partnership with VT Careers Management Southern and local secondary schools. This has been received positively and will continue to be developed.

3.4 New and challenging experiences

3.4.1 A group of young people participated in the Henry Palmer Award, a civil engineering project which offered peer education opportunities, enabling them to develop new skills in filming, script writing, editing and communicating with graduates in the engineering profession. This work was supported by Chandlers Ford Detached Team.

3.4.1 Young people have also engaged in various projects across Eastleigh participating in outdoor education opportunities, including high ropes team building and challenge, canoeing, mountain biking, residential on canal boats and trips to Calshot.

3.5 Healthy living

3.5.1 Work has been undertaken at Crestwood, Wildern, Toynbee, Alderman Quilley and Hamble secondary schools, assisting with the personal, social and health education curriculum. This has included workshops on drugs education, alcohol, relationships and citizenship.

3.5.2 Work has also been undertaken at Lakeside school, delivering the youth work curriculum through outdoor education and work related activities. During the course of this year an OFSTED inspection took place at Lakeside school where the work of the Youth Service was recognised and praised for its contribution to school improvement and pupil achievement.

3.6 Partnerships

3.6.1 It is a credit to the district that all Hampshire County Youth Service provision is now working in partnership with other agencies/organisations. Partners include Eastleigh Borough Council, Hampshire Police Authority, Hampshire Social Services, Eastleigh Action for Skills, VT Careers Management Southern, local secondary schools and colleges and many local churches.

3.6.2 These partnerships have raised for Youth Service initiatives approximately £150,000 for 2001-2002 with £227,499 earmarked for 2002-2003 financial year.

3.6.3 An Eastleigh District Connexions forum has been developed and is working positively.

3 Buildings

3.1 The new `Grip' replacing the Youth Wing at Wildern School has unfortunately been delayed due to the slippage of other works on the school site, however work has now commenced. In addition, £120,000 has been identified to support the replacement of Hamble Youth Centre. Discussions have taken place with members and officers of Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council to progress this initiative.

4.2 To facilitate the replacement and support pledges from district and parish councils, £50,000 has been identified in the Youth Service budget from the Eastleigh allocation and current youth work vacancies. It is proposed this amount be transferred from revenue to capital to enable the new building to be completed.

4.2 A `One Stop Shop' information and advice project opened its doors on the 19 November 2001, located in the old town hall in central Eastleigh. The venue was completely refurbished with new equipment and furniture installed. The Youth Service is working in partnership with VT Careers Management Southern, Social Services, Eastleigh Borough Council and Eastleigh Action for Skills in the management and development of this project.

5 Staff development

5.1 There are presently two members of staff involved in the national qualification for Youth Work, three staff have completed and passed the local qualification certificate and three full time staff are presently completing the Connexions Diploma. All staff have completed tier one Drug Education training and the majority of staff have completed tier two of Drug Education training.

6 Resources

6.1 The Youth Services delegated budget for the Eastleigh District in 2002-2003 is £108,400.

6.2 External funding secured in 2002-2003 is £77,499 for revenue and £120,000 for capital building projects.

6.3 In 2002/3 external revenue secured;

	£
Eastleigh Borough Council	£24,400
Parish/Town Council	£14,221
Housing Associations	£3,000
Community Against Drugs Fund	£32,128
Local churches	£3,750
Total	£77,499

6 Recommendations

1 That the current developments and youth work in Eastleigh District be welcomed.

2 That the executive member for education be advised to support the transfer of £50,000 of revenue funds to capital to facilitate the development of a new building in Hamble.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

Nil.

Appendix 1

Project	Contact Person
The Basement Youth Centre Off Hiltingbury Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 5NP Tel: 023 8027 1993	Claire Ford Worker-in-charge
Chandlers Ford Detached Team C/o., The Basement Youth Centre Off Hiltingbury Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 5NP Tel: 023 8027 1993	Darryl Sheppard Full time youth worker
The Basement `After School Club' Off Hiltingbury Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 5NP Tel: 023 8027 1993	Darryl Sheppard Full time youth worker
Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Detached Team C/o., The Basement Youth Centre Off Hiltingbury Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 5NP Tel: 023 8027 1993	Louise Young Full time youth worker
Gay, Lesbian and Bi-sexual Project C/o., The Basement Youth Centre Off Hiltingbury Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 5NP Tel: 023 8027 1993	Louise Young Full time youth worker
Project	Contact Person
Taking Control, Project for young people at risk of exclusion C/o., The Basement Youth Centre Off Hiltingbury Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 5NP Tel: 023 8027 1993	Louise Young Full time youth worker
LINCS The Point Leigh Road Eastleigh SO50 9DE Tel: 023 8062 9983	Alan Smith Co-ordinator
The Grip Wildern School Wildern Lane Hedge End Southampton SO30 4EJ Tel: 01489 783821	Jenny Critchlow Full time youth worker
Hedge End, West End and Botley Detached Team C/o., The Grip Wildern School Wildern Lane Hedge End Southampton SO30 4EJ Tel: 01489 783821	Jenny Critchlow Full time youth worker
Bursledon, Hamble and Hound Detached Team C/o., Hamble Youth Centre Satchell Lane Hamble-le-Rice Southampton SO31 5NE Tel: 023 8045 2333	Paul McLeod Full time youth worker

Project	Contact Person
Hamble Youth Centre Satchell Lane Hamble-le-Rice Southampton SO31 5NE Tel: 023 8045 2333	Martin Bowyer Worker-in-charge
Duke of Edinburgh Award Duke of Edinburgh Open Centre St Francis Church Pilgrims Close Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 3FQ Tel: 023 8027 1152	Brian Medway 01489 795866 Mike Oliver D of E Field Officer

Youth provision supported by the Youth Service

West End Youth Centre, led by West End Parish Council

Botley Youth Centre, led by Botley Parish Council

Young Carers Project, led by Eastleigh Community Services

Domestic Violence Forum, led by Eastleigh Borough Council and Social Services

Work with local secondary schools

Appendix 2

Network initiatives

Eastleigh Youth Forum

A forum for all agencies working with young people, meeting every four months to share practice/information, facilitated by Senior Youth Worker and Eastleigh Borough Council, Community Development Manager.

Connexions Strategy Group

This group is made up of managers with strategic responsibilities at District level.

Community Safety Partnership

Senior Youth Worker strategic manager for preventing youth crime.

Drug Reference Group

Member with strategic lead for various areas of delivery.

Children's Fund Management Group

Senior Youth Worker member of group

Domestic Violence Forum

Senior Youth Worker member of group.

14 and 16 Plus Panel

Senior Youth Worker member of the group, the brief is to look at individual needs and recommend a plan of action to the relevant agency.

District Council

Regular meetings with area co-ordinators of Borough Council to ensure effective use of joint resources.

Young Carers Group

Senior Youth Worker member of group.