Contact: Sue Cooper, Youth Service Manager, Tel: 01962 846250

Malcolm Rittman, County Youth Officer, Tel: 01962 846370

1. Introduction

1.1 This report amends the Hampshire County Youth Service grants policy and criteria to support the development of the voluntary youth and community groups in Hampshire and to enhance the strategic role of Hampshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services.

2. Background

2.1 A review of the Hampshire County Youth Service Grant Aid scheme was reported to the Youth Panel on 2 July 2002. The purpose of this paper is to build on this review and to strengthen the relationship between the Hampshire County Youth Service and voluntary and community youth groups and improve the management arrangements for allocating grants.

2.2 The recent government report Transforming Youth Work - Resourcing Excellent Youth Services recognises the distinct and complementary roles of local authority and voluntary and community sector and encourages local authorities to invest, work in partnership and develop approaches to planning, funding and service delivery.

2.3 Grant aid has been a core part of the Youth Service budget to support the voluntary and community youth groups and is a positive way of extending the range and diversity of work with young people. The grants provided by the Youth Service complement those awarded by the Connexions partnership and other grants available to groups from Hampshire County Council.

3. Improving support to the Voluntary and Community Sector

3.1 The Hampshire County Youth Service has developed and supported a range of work with voluntary and community youth groups. In order to improve the coherence of voluntary youth work and to support leadership for the sector the Youth Service works closely with the Hampshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services.

3.2 To enable the Hampshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services to implement its development plan, part of the Transforming Youth Work budget has been allocated to support the employment of a development worker.

3.3 The changes proposed to Youth Service grants, policy and criteria in appendix 1 support the strengthening of the relationship between Hampshire County Youth Service and the voluntary and community youth groups and will enable the Hampshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services to develop its strategic role for the sector.

4 Recommendations

That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Education that:

The grants policy and proposals outlined in appendix 1 be adopted

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

Hampshire County Youth Service

Grants Policy, Criteria and Management

Hampshire County Youth Service provides grants to support work with young people and develop the capacity of voluntary youth organisations in Hampshire in line with the aims, objectives and priorities of the Youth Service and Connexions Service.

1. Principles

1.1 There are two types of grant:

· Annual Revenue Grant

· Project Development Grant

1.2 There is one set of criteria which apply to ALL grants. Organisations MUST fulfil the criteria to be eligible for grant aid.

1.3 All grant applications must include supporting statements which must confirm the status and the work of the organisation:

· Annual revenue grants - county from Hampshire County

Voluntary Youth Service (HCVYS)

· Annual revenue grants - district from Senior Youth Worker

(SYW)

· Project development grants - county from HCVYS and young people

· Project development grant - district from SYW or Connexions Co- ordinator and young people

1.4 A grants assessment panel comprising Youth Service Manager, Representative of County Youth Council and Representative of HCVYS, serviced by Principal Administrative Officer will:

· Assess all grant applications against the criteria identified in 3.1 and make recommendations to the County Youth Officer (CYO) to take to the Youth Panel for approval by the Executive Member for Education.

· Monitor and evaluate the operation of the grants policy and impact on work with young people of grants allocated to voluntary organisations.

1.5 HCVYS to provide the following services:

· Training and support for voluntary youth organisations to make funding applications, complete grants forms and monitor and evaluate their work.

· A representative to sit on the grants assessment panel

· Assess and vet all grant applications from county-wide voluntary youth organisations and provide supporting statement.

· Monitoring and evaluating outcomes for county organisations in receipt of grants.

2. Grants

2.1 Annual Revenue Grant

2.1.1 This grant is available for:

i. Countywide Voluntary Youth Organisations - these are youth organisations that co-ordinate or develop youth work throughout the County. Organisations which have local branches or projects should submit one summary application. The maximum grant available is £25,000. Approved grants are usually less than this.

ii. Local Voluntary Youth Organisations - these are youth organisations who work within district council areas or defined communities. The maximum grant available is determined by the Youth Service formula funding resource allocation. Approved grants are usually between £500 and £5,000, to support new areas of work.

2.1.2 The grants budget is allocated using the Youth Service formula to ensure equitable distribution to districts throughout the County and to respond to the needs of young people and communities. The Hampshire County Council Youth Panel considers annual revenue grants at its March meeting with any remaining balances allocated to project development grant budget to support voluntary organisations during the following financial year.

2.2 Project Development Grant

2.2.1 This grant is available to assist voluntary youth groups and organisations to:

· Set up new projects, assist with curriculum development work including trips and youth exchanges

· Provide items of equipment and furniture

· Assist with building expenditure and running costs

· Support some salary costs for short term projects

2.2.2 Applications are submitted for approval to the Hampshire County Council Youth Panel which meets three times a year

Deadline dates to submit an application are:

15^th January for March Panel

15^th April for July Panel

15^th September for November Panel

3. Criteria for Grant Aid

3.1 To be eligible for support the voluntary youth group or organisation must:

1. Work with young people in Hampshire County Council area.

2. Work with young people, at least 50% of whom are in the 13 - 19 year age range; the others being within the whole age range 11-25 years.

3. Use grant to fund work with 13 - 19 year age range only.

4. Demonstrate how the organisation or project meets the priorities, aims and objectives of the County Youth Service and Connexions Service.

5. Identify target group and outcomes for young people.

6. Including having policy statements and guidelines in place for Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Child Protection and Quality Assurance.

7. Seek no more than 50% of the required funding as grant aid from Hampshire County Council.

8. Apply for funding from other sources such as district/Borough Councils, business or other sponsorship.

9. Be a `not for profit' organisation or project.

10. Ensure that the project/work does not take place before the Executive Member for Education's Decision Days

3.2 Organisations and Projects will be required to complete the appropriate Application Form (Annual Revenue or Project Development). The following is a checklist of information that will be required:

4. Budget

Total Grants budget: £195,600

Annual Revenue Grants: County organisations £ 65,000

Training £ 15,000

Local organisations £ 80,000

(allocated by formula)

Project Development Grants £ 35,600