Archived decisions

Contact: Sharon Davies, Senior Youth Worker, Tel: 023 8086 6203,

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1. This report provides information about youth work in the New Forest District with reference to the key issues being addressed. Information is included on current work and planned developments. A list of current Youth Service projects and networks is attached in a series of appendices.

2. New Forest District

2.1. The District is co-terminus with the New Forest District Council area covering approximately 290 square miles with a population of around 173,000; 13,500 of which are young people aged 13-19. Whilst 45% of the population live in the Totton and Waterside area, the majority live in the more remote areas, including New Milton, (10%) Ringwood (8%) Lymington (7%) the remainder living in the small rural villages within the forest boundary.

2.2. The New Forest area benefits from low unemployment. Young people attend nine secondary schools, (5 with sixth forms), two sixth form colleges, two special education schools, and a number of private education facilities.

2.3. In addition to the senior youth worker, the Youth Service team is made up of seven full-time and twenty four part-time youth workers delivering a range of services, including, detached youth work, information, advice and counselling, rural youth work, inclusion programmes and building based youth clubs. Full-time staff have responsibility for either key delivery areas - i.e. curriculum development, or geographical areas. Difficulties have been experienced in recruiting full time youth work staff.

2.4. The priority issues and needs of young people in the District are identified through consultation with young people; the wider community; parish, town, and district councils, voluntary organisations, and other agencies and organisations. These are:

· safe, accessible places for young people to meet

· rural isolation, and strategies to alleviate challenges faced by young people in accessing services, such as transport and housing.

· involvement in democracy and decision-making

· curriculum development

· developing the Connexions strategy

· developing strong voluntary agencies, able to respond to the national agenda.

2.5. These needs, with those identified by national and county priorities, will be addressed throughout the forthcoming year in the New Forest District.

3. Curriculum

3.1. Healthy living.

3.1.1. The Youth Service is actively involved in the teenage pregnancy agenda, working closely with the Primary Care Trusts and the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy group, developing sexual health programmes and services. The Youth Service is also working with health partners in areas of high teenage pregnancy to develop and promote accessible sexual health services, including two youth clinics.

3.1.2. The Youth Service, working with partners in the district, is hosting a 100 place residential experience that will enable young women to explore their health needs and develop strategies to meet them.

3.2. Social inclusion.

3.2.1. Working with a number of secondary schools in the New Forest programmes have been developed to address behaviour difficulties, anger management, and provide support and encouragement for young people to re-enter full-time education. Programmes are being offered this term, in Arnewood, Testwood, Applemore and Ringwood Schools. Negotiations are taking place with Connexions and Noadswood School to develop an accredited Anger Management course.

3.2.2. Working with the Crime and Disorder Group programmes and resources are being developed to address some of the issues raised by rural isolation, enabling young people to access services, and take some services to more remote areas. The recent purchase of a fully accessible, mini-bus with flexible space using Communities Against Drugs money, will further enhance this work.

3.3. Democracy and decision-making.

3.4. The District Youth Work team, working in partnership with the District Connexions team, are actively working with groups of young people from communities across the New Forest, consulting with young people and promoting Connexions services and youth forum(s).

3.5. Personal and social skills.

3.5.1. Open access youth centre programmes, in Colors Youth Centre - Hardley, Totton, New Milton and Ringwood enable young people to access a range of opportunities that enable them to positively interact with each other, adults, and other community members. Programmes include a variety of activities and curriculum initiatives that enable young people to experience new challenges and develop self esteem within a safe environment.

3.6. New and challenging experiences.

3.6.1. District youth work team members have enabled young people's participation through a range of opportunities including, residential experiences at Calshot, Aberdovey, and coastal Sailing. The programme for the coming months includes experiences at HCC Welsh Mountain Centre, Avon Tyrrell, Sparsholt, and Aberdovey.

3.6.2. Working with the County Officer responsible for the Duke of Edinburgh's award, the district is reviewing the delivery of the Award, seeking to develop a more cohesive approach to this form of accreditation for young people.

3.7. Partnerships.

3.7.1. It is a credit to the District Youth Work team that Hampshire County Youth Service has actively sought to work in partnership with other agencies and organisations, taking the lead in issues affecting young people. Partners include Connexions, Forest Forge (a theatre company), Primary Care Trust (PCT), local schools, voluntary youth organisations.

3.7.2. The District Youth work team is also receiving requests to work with parish, town and district council to develop youth work projects and local facilities for young people. Team members are presently working in close co-operation with New Forest District Council; Fordingbridge Town Council, New Milton Town Council, Bransgore Parish Council, and Ringwood Town Council.

3.7.3. The District team made a successful bid to develop after-school provision at Colors Youth Centre, and will be working closely with other agencies to enable the success of this new venture.

4. Buildings

4.1. Totton Youth Centre on the Testwood School site, has recently been refurbished, included in this was the opportunity to create a base for the full time youth work and administrative teams in the district.

4.2. Colors Youth Centre, adjacent to Hardley School on the Waterside is looking forward to refurbishment in the near future. Young people and the local community will be involved as plans are drawn up early in the new year.

4.3. New Milton Youth Centre continues to be well used by both young people and the local community, although recent staff shortages have reduced the programme.

4.4. Images Youth Centre, at Applemore has recently been refurbished to provide a base for the Connexions district team, and to offer opportunities for the development of appropriate provision with young people.

4.5. Advice, information, and counselling is provided by `Its Your Choice', a voluntary agency, who use premises owned by Hampshire County Council in Salisbury Road, Totton.

5. Staff development

5.1. Two members of staff have recently successfully completed their National Diploma in Youth and Community Work, a further member of staff is being supported in their final year of this course.

5.2. Five members of staff have recently completed their NVQ2, in youth work. A further three members of staff will be supported in this qualification over the coming year.

5.3. We have recently recruited seven new members of staff to the part time team, who are participating in induction and youth work training.

6. Youth Service resources

6.1. The Youth Service delegated budget for the District in 2003/2004 is £153,900. This does not include full time staff salaries.

6.2. Additional external funding is targeted to be secured during 2003/2004.

6.3. Breakdown of external funding secured for revenue cost 2003/2004:

· New Opportunities Fund (After-School provision) £15,000

· Building lets £10,000

· External sources (targeted) £25,700

Total £50,700

7. Recommendation

7.1 The current development of youth work in the New Forest District is to be welcomed.

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1. 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.

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