Archived decisions

Contact: Mark Blackwell, Senior Youth Worker, Tel: 01252 311786,

email: [email protected]

1. Report summary

1.1 The aim of this report is to provide information about youth work supported in the Hart district by the Hampshire County Youth Service. Information is provided on the key youth work issues, current work and planned developments. A list of current youth service projects is attached - appendix 1.

1.2 Youth Work in the Hart District support corporate strategic aim 1 (Maximising life opportunities), Aim 2 (Stewardship of the environment), Aim 3 (Achieving economic prosperity), Aim 4 (Building Strong and Safe Communities), Aim 5 (Improving services) and Aim 6 (Developing councillors and staff), and supports the cabinet priority for youth.

2. Context

2.1 The district is co-terminus with the Hart District Council area covering approximately 85 square miles with a population of around 90,000; 7,300 of which are young people aged 13-19. The population of the area can roughly be divided into three areas 40% in Fleet and Church Crookham, 30% in Yateley and Blackwater Valley and 30% in the rural villages and areas.

2.2 Hart benefits from low unemployment and low deprivation factors. The deprivation that does exist is masked by the area's affluence. The majority of pupils attend either the five secondary schools in the district or two independent schools. However, a proportion attend other educational facilities outside of the district particularly the further education colleges.

2.3 In addition, to the senior youth worker, the youth service team is made up of three full-time youth workers and 18 part-time youth work posts delivering a range of services, including: information and advice; inclusion programmes; arts projects; and building based youth clubs. Full-time staff have responsibility for individual projects and areas of curriculum development.

3. Curriculum

3.1. Healthy living

3.1.1. The district youth service team is actively involved in the teenage pregnancy strategy, working closely with the Primary Care Trusts and the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy group, to develop sexual health programmes and services. This joint work has led to the production of a video on teenage pregnancy, produced by young people from the Point Centre in Fleet.

3.1.2. Youth workers have delivered drugs education programmes to all year nine students in Court Moor and Calthorpe Park schools as a follow up to a Drug Action Team funded drama workshop and delivered to all the youth projects in the district.

3.1.3. Resulting from a programme on healthy eating at one of our youth centres, young people have insisted that a machine selling chocolate and other confectionary, is to be replaced by a machine selling organic health bars and fruit.

3.2. Social inclusion

3.2.1. A successful personal development programme has been delivered at Frogmore Community College to pupils who are at risk of exclusion.

3.2.2. The youth service, in partnership with social services and Hart voluntary action, has led a successful support group for young carers from both Hart and Rushmoor.

3.2.3. Members of the Hart district youth work team, have recently started supporting the work of the `Traveller Community Worker' by working with the 13 - 19 year olds on local sites.

3.2.4. The youth service is providing mentors for pupils at Calthorpe Park school, who are socially isolated or behave in ways which may lead to them being excluded from school.

3.3. Democracy and decision-making

3.3.1 Working in partnership with the district Connexions team, youth workers are supporting the Connexions Youth Forum in Hart.

3.3.2 Hartley Wintney parish council and the youth service, are working together to set up a youth council for the parish which will link with the district youth council and the county youth council.

3.3.3 The youth service is also supporting the work of the Hook Youth Council and enabling them to maintain their independence and identity.

3.4. Personal and social skills

3.4.1. Open access youth centre programmes in Court Moor youth centre, Yateley information project, the Point youth centre and RAF Odiham youth club, give young people access to a range of opportunities that enable them to interact positively with each other, with local adults and with other community organisations. Programmes include a variety of activities and curriculum initiatives, that allow young people to experience new challenges and develop their self esteem within a safe environment.

3.4.2. The work undertaken by youth service staff in Frogmore Community college and Calthorpe Park school, is focussed on developing the social and personal skills of the young people referred to the projects by the staff of the schools.

3.5. New and challenging experiences

3.5.1. Members of the Hart district youth work team enable young people to participate in a range of challenging experiences. During the past year residential events have been based in Finland and in Hampshire's mountain centres in Wales. Other outdoor education activities, including skiing, climbing and quad biking, have taken place at Calshot and at the Three Peaks centre.

3.5.2. The Hart Education Music Project (HEMP) worked with a group of young people to produce and display carnival costumes in co-operation with members of the Notting Hill carnival committee.

3.5.3. A week's photography project in partnership with Hampshire Arts and Basingstoke college. The photographs will be exhibited at the West End arts centre.

3.5.4. Through the "SCAMfest" youth day and three "SCAMlive" evening concerts 12 young bands from the area have been able to perform live sets. This work has been supported by a jamming evening and a guitar club based at local youth centres.

3.5.5. Eleven young people attending the open award centre in the district have been awarded their bronze Duke of Edinburgh's award. Eight of these young people are now working towards there silver award with the support of the youth service.

3.6. Partnerships

3.6.1. Of the 19 county youth service projects in the district 17 are organised in partnership with other organisations

3.6.2. The district youth work team is currently working with town and parish councils to develop youth work projects and local facilities for young people, in Hartley Wintney, Church Crookham, Yateley and Hook.

3.6.3. Youth workers are members of a number of local partnerships and take a lead on some elements of both the local strategic plan and the community safety strategy.

4. Buildings

4.1 The youth wing at Court Moor school is the only building in Hart controlled by the Hampshire County Youth Service. The plan for the future development of the building is to house the district youth office and to maintain an appropriate space for focussed youth work. Negotiations with the school and other interested parties, are currently taking place.

4.2 The Hampshire County Youth Service runs provision from the Point Youth centre in Fleet. The building is owned by Hart district council and is on a 25 year lease to the Fleet and District Community Association.

5. Staff development

5.1 One member of the youth service staff in the district is completing the second year of their three year diploma course to become nationally qualified and another youth worker is on the first year of their three year foundation degree course in youth work.

5.2 Two members of staff have recently completed their NVQ1 in youth work. A further five members of staff will be supported in undertaking this course in the coming year.

5.3 Three members of staff will be supported in the NVQ2 qualification over the coming year.

5.4 We have recently recruited five new members of staff to the part-time team and they are participating in an induction programme.

6. Youth Service resources

6.1. The Youth Service formula funded allocation to the district in 2004/2005 is £174,100. The deployable budget (net of full-time youth worker salaries) is £104,400.

6.2. Breakdown of external funding secured for 2004/2005 to date is:

6.2.1. New Opportunities Fund (After-School provision) £ 2,500

6.2.2. Building lets £ 2,300

6.2.3. Hart District Council Grant

(through Fleet and District Community Association) £ 25,300

6.2.4. RAF Odiham £ 7,000

6.2.5. Hartley Wintney Parish Council £ 6,500

Total £ 43,600

Obtaining additional external funding is a target for 2004/2005.

7. Recommendation

7.1 The current development of youth work in the Hart District is welcomed.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Papers

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.

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

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

Nil