Archived decisions

Contact: Malcolm Rittman, County Youth Officer, Tel: 01962 846370

1 Summary

1.1 This report summarises recent developments in the Hampshire County Youth Service (HCYS) and updates Members on current issues including: Improvements to Youth Service buildings; Hampshire County Youth Council work and achievements; improving recruitment to the Youth Service.

2 Buildings

2.1 The main improvements scheme in 2001/02 was Totton Youth Centre, which has been completed and was formally re-opened on 24 September. The refurbishment was substantial and included a new kitchen and coffee bar, improved access and toilets, as well as a complete redecoration of the youth centre. The centre now provides a good, warm and safe environment for work with young people.

2.2 Buildings Improvements and maintenance review of 2002/03

2.3 The priority building improvements for 2002/03 in partnership with Property, Business and Regulatory Services are:

_ Capricorn Youth Centre, Aldershot: complete upgrade - kitchen, coffee bar, toilets, seating, creation of office space and external decorations

_ Romsey Youth Centre: improve access and create office space

_ New Milton Youth Centre: Create separate space for young people to have access to computers

_ The Grip Youth Wing at Wildern School: a replacement for the existing building is expected to be completed in March and fully operational by May 2003. This has been a co-operative project with funding coming from a range of providers in addition to Hampshire County Council from Eastleigh Borough Council, Wildern School, Healthy Living Network and Hedge End Town Council.

_ Hamble Youth Wing: currently £220,000 has been identified for the project to replace the existing building which is in very poor condition. The amount so far is sufficient to initiate the building as the revised cost is lower than anticipated (approximately £270 with some furnishing).

2.4 The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, came into effect from 1 September 2002. To meet the requirements of the Act, Hampshire County Youth Service has been allocated £172,500 by the government to improve access. £135,500 has been allocated to capital improvements. The current action plan for 2002/03 is with Property, Business and Regulatory Services in the work due to be completed by the end of March 2003. The remaining £37,000 has been allocated to revenue costs associated with improving access across Hampshire.

3. Hampshire County Youth Council

3.1 The Hampshire County Youth Council (HCYC)has been very busy over the last few months with the main task consisting of the '50 years of Fun' residential, where the youth council played a major role in organising and facilitating the weekend. The residential weekend was very successful with over 60 young people attending, who had great fun taking part in all the themed workshops and outdoor activities. The year ended with a Christmas social event.

3.2 The main activity from the beginning of this year has been the planning for the UK Youth Parliament Elections (UKYP). Events were held at:

Havant - 9

Basingstoke - 12

Totton - 5

3.3 Each young person composed and delivered a 3 minute speech outlining what they would like to gain from being an MYP and what the benefits would be for the young people in Hampshire if they were successful.

3.4 In Havant and Basingstoke the Hustings were held in the Council chambers, in Totton they were held at the youth centre.

3.5 The six young people that were elected to represent Hampshire at he UK Youth Parliament were:

_ Oliver Edwards

_ Emma Biermann

_ Ann Gammon

_ John Tippett-Cooper

_ Max Hindle

_ Guy Parsons

3.6 These young people will now take part in a `hand over' residential with the MYPs from last year. They will attend monthly regional meetings of the UK Youth Parliament and a national sitting in the summer holidays. They will also attend monthly Hampshire County Youth Council meetings to gain and feedback information.

3.7 The annual general meeting will be held in March and the executive committee are planning for this to be bigger and better than ever before.

3.8 It is pleasing to report the HCYC have been able to secure a meeting with Cllr Thornber and other Members in April. This will provide young people from around Hampshire a chance to quiz decision makers and put their opinions forward.

3.9 The HCYC is also involved in the development of the Hampshire Youth Strategy, which is a really exciting and positive step for young people.

4. Recruitment update

4.1 The Youth Service, together with other departments, has found responses to advertised job vacancies to be poor. Currently 23% of full-time and 31% of part-time posts are vacant in the service. Consequently, a number of positions have remained unfilled, even after two rounds of advertising. In addressing this challenge, the service is currently working closely with the County's advertising agency, Bartlett Scott Edgar. An eye-catching colour advertisement, which promotes the benefits of working for Hampshire County Youth Service, will be placed in the Guardian and the re-launched Young People Now magazine. The Senior Youth Worker in Basingstoke, is working closely with the advertising agency, with a view to improving the response to advertisements as there is a large number of part-time vacancies.

5 County Youth Strategy

5.1 Progress is being made on the development of a County Youth Strategy and it anticipated a draft strategy is are working together with members from the County Youth Council to produce a strategy.

5.2 The strategy group is stimulating new ways of working and encouraging departments to concentrate on and refocus their work with young people. An initial outcome has been the development of a closer working relationship between the Youth Service and the Recreation and Heritage department. It is proposed to appoint a development youth worker to support the involvement of young people in a range of cultural and recreational activities and to work with staff to develop the skills of staff in working with young people

6. Recommendations

That the current developments in the Youth Service be welcomed and noted.

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.

Working Together - Connexions and the Statutory Youth Service April 2002