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Hampshire County Council Youth Panel 01 July 2003 County Youth Officer's Report Report of the County Education Officer

Item 8

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: Annual report and review of achievements for 2002/03; Buildings Improvements and maintenance plan; Hampshire County Youth Council work and achievements and Connexions developments.

2 Annual report

2.1 This year has been another successful year for Hampshire County Youth Service. The annual report for 200/03 - Transforming Youth Work published July 03 highlights some of the work the Service engaged in last year. The range and diversity of the work has increased with a clear focus. The report describes how the service works with young people in new and innovative ways

2.2 A summary review of achievements is outlined in appendix 1

3 Buildings Improvements and maintenance review of 2002/03

3.1 The Hampshire County Youth Service is committed to providing youth work in buildings which are attractive to young people and fit for purpose. An improvement plan is drawn up annually in consultation with Property Building and Regulatory Services. The plan (appendix 2) highlights the priorities for 2003/04.

3.2 The plan includes the improvements to be made to ensure buildings meet the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. These improvements focus on improving access and are funded by a government grant.

4 Hampshire County Youth Council

4.1 The Hampshire County Youth Council annual general meeting was held in the Great Hall in March and a new executive committee was elected. The new executive held a planning day in April to establish some of the key areas of work for the forthcoming year.

4.2 A very successful meeting was held between Hampshire County Youth Council members, the Leader and Hampshire County Council Cabinet Members. The meeting explored a whole range of issues of concern to youth council members and elected members.

4.3 Youth Council members have been involved in supporting the development of youth councils in the New Forest, consultation on the Hampshire Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and the development of the County Youth Strategy.

4.4 Members of the UK Youth Parliament addressed the full County Council meeting in April.

4.5 Individual UK Youth Parliament members have been in meetings or correspondence with Members of Parliament including John Prescott, Charles Kennedy and Patricia Hewitt on a variety of issues including youth nuisance and cycle helmets. One member has been involved in a Transport focus group. Contact is also being made with district councillors to discuss local youth issues.

5 Connexions update

5.1 The Youth Service has been involved in a considerable amount of activity over the last few months to support the establishment of the infrastructure to implement and support the development of the Connexions Service.

5.2 The following are key areas of work that have been progressed which are necessary for work with young people to flourish:

· The contract between Hampshire County Council and the South Central Connexions Partnership has been agreed and signed

· The County and District delivery plans have been submitted and incorporated into the 2003-4 South Central Connexions Partnership - Hampshire Plan. District Co-ordinators are now working with their teams to develop and implement the work

· Agreements with schools and colleges are being prepared jointly by Co-ordinators and Area Careers Managers

· Recruitment progresses

100% of Co-ordinators are in post = 5.5fte

90% of Personal Advisers are either in post or have been recruited and will start shortly = 46.9fte

100% of Finance and Admin Officers are in post. = 3.0fte

· A revised administrative support structure has been agreed and extra staff will be recruited shortly

· Staff are involved with all aspects of the Connexions training

· One stop shop, working bases and Community Information and signposting points are all progressing. A few examples of progress are:

o The adjustments to Images, at Dibden, and The Lodge, at Havant, are nearing completion.

o Builders are about to make adjustments to the I-stop, Gosport, and Xperience (Fareham).

o Plans are progressing in East Hampshire at Bordon, and the Hampshire Youth Bureau at Rushmoor, whilst in others areas such as Winchester initial plans are being revised

o Appropriate accommodation is being sought in Basingstoke, Hart and Test Valley .

5.3 Work with young people is developing in all districts and is expected to increase sharply as staff come into post.

5.4 The Connexions Service is being formally launched across the partnership during the week commencing 23^rd June. Marketing activities are being planned and delivered to support this.

5.5 From the 1^st April, Connexions Direct have extended their pilot to include the South Central Partnership area and staff have been actively involved in work to ensure the range and depth of information required is available.

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

Hampshire County Youth Service Review 2002/03

The following achievements were made against the priority targets in 2003/03

Target 1 Personal & Social Skills

_ A 35% increase in the number of young people entering the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and a 7% increase in those achieving an award

_ 18 organisations registered as access organisations

_ A successful evaluation of the Youth Offending Team Duke of Edinburgh's Award project demonstrated only 2% had re-offended against over 30% in a controlled group

_ A number of Districts have appointed workers to promote the accreditation of young people's learning through the Youth Service

_ Work with 10s-13s has been promoted as funding has become available and 5 projects have been established with another 6 planned.

Target 2 Democracy & Decision Making

_ The County Youth Council has had a successful year and the work extended through the support of a Development Youth Worker

_ The County Youth Council has: met with the Leader and Cabinet Members; supported the voice of young people in Connexions; encouraged the development of local forums; held a successful residential in the autumn; been involved in the development of the County Youth Strategy

_ District teams have supported the development of local forums

_ Successful re-elections were held to elect six members for the National Youth Parliament

Target 3 Social Inclusion

_ The Youth Service supported the Social Inclusion Branch and Education other than at School (EOTAS), in the autumn, to meet the Government's targets for full time education for those excluded or not attending school. In some districts this work is continuing

_ The Youth Service played a key role in the launch of the Connexions Service and is contracted to: manage the co-ordination of Connexions and additional Personal Advisers; develop one stop centres and access points; and support the involvement of young people

_ At least one Connexions information point is being established in each district

_ Six co-ordinators, 40 Personal and Information advisers and additional administrative staff have been appointed to support Connexions

Target 4 New Opportunities and Challenging Experiences

_ Over 197 young people were engaged in residential activities or the Summer Activities programme between July and September

_ Youth exchanges took place with Mali and Finland

_ Links have been enhance between the Youth Service and the Recreation and Heritage Department to develop joint projects and greater use of outdoor centres

Target 5 Healthy lifestyles

_ The Youth Service Drugs policy has been implemented and activities monitored

_ Good use has been made of national health days to promote health issues

_ Support given to second a Youth Officer to the teenage pregnancy initiative

Target 6 Employment and staff development

_ Staff development opportunities created to develop staff skills and to develop new experiences through the use of secondments

_ Significant staff shortages both full and part-time

_ A number of staff have moved into Connexions work

_ 60 Staff appointed to support the Connexions contract

Target 7 Staff development and training

_ New local qualification developed in line with occupational standards and NVQ changes

_ Support given to establish a foundation degree to provide a pathway for staff to acquire a nationally qualification locally

_ 14 members of staff supported on national qualification courses.

Target 8 Financial resources

_ External funding for youth work increased. Funding acquired from 12 different funding sources

_ £2.2m secured from Connexions to develop the service

Target 9 Resources and administration

_ Improvements made to buildings and programme in place to meet the requirement of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act.

_ All districts are on IT 2000

_ Administrative structure enhanced to meet service needs

Target 10 Quality assurance

_ Recording system modified to monitor and provide information

_ Annual satisfaction survey completed to inform future developments and initiatives

Malcolm Rittman

County Youth Officer

April 2003

Hampshire County Council - Youth Service

Buildings Improvements and maintenance plan for 2003/04- County Youth Service Budget

	Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Youth Service Resource Allocation Action Plan 2003/04
	Building		Category	Works		Estimated Cost
	Priority A
	Colours Youth		LA (Y) B	Signs, visual alarm, loop, switches, new external doors to improve access		£ 8,400
	New Milton Youth		LA (Y) B	Upgrade toilets, Signs, visual alarm, loop, switches, new external doors		£20,400
	Court Moor Youth		LA (Y) C	Accessible toilet, internal ramp, loop, switches, external ramps		£25,000
	The Dome		Rented B	Enlarge toilet, visual alarm, signs, switches, loop		£11,000
	Images		LA (Y) B	Electronic opening doors		£6,000
	X-perience		Rented B	Chair lift		£5,000
	John Hunt		LA (S) B	Loop, Visual alarm, Switches		£2,500
	Mobile Information Point		Vehicle	Provide disabled access to mobile Information Point - Winchester District		£11,300
	Hayling Youth Centre		LA (Y) B	Provide disable access to 2 offices		£4,000
	Grey town House Basingstoke		Rented B	Provide disabled access to shop front, visual alarm, switches, signs, loop		£10,000
	Church Cottage		Rented C	External ramp, Internal ramp, Visual alarm, switches, signs, loop		£8,000
	Ridgeway Centre, Buckskin		Rented B	Loop, Visual alarm, Switches		£2,500
	Station Rd, Aldershot		Rented C	Shop on main street, external ramps, disabled toilet facilities		£20,000
	Total					£134,100
Capricorn Youth Centre		Complete upgrade - kitchen, coffee bar, toilets, seating, creation of office space and external decorations			£40,000
Court Moor Youth Centre		Complete upgrade of centre in conjunction with DDA accessibility budget			£25,000
Face to Face, Winchester		Improvements to first floor of Information Point			£20,000
Shop, Station Rd, Aldershot		Improvements to Shop to enable Youth Service and Connexions to use as Information Point in conjunction with DDA accessibility budget			£10,000

Categories Key:

LA (Y) C Local authority premises exclusively for youth use - limited

disabled access

LA (Y) B Local authority premises exclusively for youth use - 50%

disabled access

LA (S) B Local authority premises shared youth use - 50% disabled

Access

Rented C Rented premises, limited disabled access

Rented B Rented premises, 50% disabled access

1. Revenue expenditure (£36,800)

Activity	Cost
Disability Awareness Training for staff and young people in East Hants	£2,500
Accessible Minibus Driver Training (Midas) New Forest	£1,000
Training the trainers - Disability Awareness - Training & Development Team	£1,500
Accessible Youth Provision needs assessment - Rushmoor	£1,000
Support to facilitate young people with disabilities to engage in participation projects e.g. Hampshire County Youth Council	£3,800
Training Resources	£2,500
Employment of worker to facilitate involvement of young people with disabilities in Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme	£18,000
Staffing and equipment costs for project facilitating engagement of young people with hearing impairment into arts project in Basingstoke District in partnership with Millennium Volunteers	£6,500
TOTAL	£36,800