Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the YOUTH PANEL held in The Conference Room at Frogmore Community School, Potley Hill Road, Yateley, Hampshire on Thursday 17 June 2004.
PRESENT :
Councillors : Mrs C A Leversha (Chairman); Mrs S E Allbright; P R Brown;
R J Ellis; Jo Kelly; Mrs P A Peskett
Also in attendance: Della Hamerton - Young Person representing the Hampshire County Youth Council and the Youth Parliament.
80. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed. Councillor Mrs Peskett declared an interest arising on Item 9 (Minute 88) in that she was a Committee Member on the Youth Clubs Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Council. The Chief Executive advised that this did not amount to a prejudicial interest and that the member concerned could remain in the meeting and speak during the course of the relevant debate.
81. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2004 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
Arising thereon:
Minute 71 - County Youth Officer's Report
A Member questioned progress on the Youth Service Best Value Review and the County Youth Officer advised that the Best Value Review had been submitted to an informal Cabinet meeting and would also be submitted to the Corporate Management Team. The Cabinet Priority Group for Crime, Youth and Deprivation was piloting Youth as part of its strategy and considering a whole range of youth provision and how the service could work together to make a response
Minute 71 - Youth Service Work in the New Forest District
The County Youth Officer advised that a report on the way forward for new initiatives would be submitted to the meeting of the Panel on 11 November 2004.
Minute 74 - Youth Work Plan
The Chairman advised that prior to writing to the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) regarding the funding arrangements in relation to grants for transforming youth work, a letter had been received advising of the funding allocation which had been greater than expected. The County Youth Officer confirmed that this was the final year of funding from GOSE and that there was no indication at the moment of additional funding from April 2005 onwards. There would be major impact on training and development should funding not be forthcoming and representations would be made to GOSE at the appropriate time.
Minute 75 - Youth Service - Development and Training
The County Youth Officer advised that the Award Officer would publicise the Duke of Edinburgh's Award more widely throughout the County.
Minute 76 - Annual Revenue Grants 2004/05
The County Youth Officer advised that discussions had commenced with the Voluntary Sector with regard to meeting its needs. However there were a number of issues to be resolved and a link with Hampshire Compact would bring together the Youth Service's quality assurance with that of the Voluntary Sector and ensure that the same standards were applied. Members of the Panel agreed that local Members should be involved in applications and should be requested to visit grant recipients 6 monthly. The County Youth Officer agreed that Members could offer organisational support and that this support could be built into the discussions with the Voluntary Sector to ensure that Members engaged more fully with the process.
82. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman reported that she had attended the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards for Hart and Rushmoor participants.
The Chairman advised that she had attended the "Sugar and Spice" event at the Avon Tyrrel Centre in the New Forest which had been attended by 120 young women with difficulties who participated in developmental workshops and activities and who had said that the experience was both enjoyable and a learning event. As a result of this successful event a "Slugs and Snails" for the young men was planned for sometime in the near future.
The Chairman also advised that a photography project in Hart district had resulted in young people exhibiting their photographs at a local arts centre and some of the work was displayed at the meeting. The event had been well attended by Members.
83. DEPUTATIONS
No deputations were received.
84. YOUTH SERVICE ANNUAL PLAN 2003/04
The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) which summarised the achievements of Hampshire County Youth Service in relation to the targets set nationally in the Annual Work Plan and the progress made implementing the Transforming Youth Work Development Plan.
The County Youth Officer circulated the Annual Report for 2003-2004 "Making a Difference" which highlighted the range of youth provision and demonstrated how youth work "makes a difference" to the lives of young people. It showed how the service was making significant progress towards transforming youth work targets against the five priorities and included comments and feedback from young people on their experiences. The Panel noted that that there had been an increase of 50% in relation to young people participating in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award which was encouraging although historically in Hampshire young people bought the book and started the Award but due to other pressures did not complete it to the Gold Stage. The importance about the Award was that it was self directed and encouraged young people to take responsibility.
The County Youth Officer highlighted the local opportunities for young people to complete a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Youth Work locally at Eastleigh College and a Foundation Degree with Southampton University which mad e a difference to the recruitment of staff. In addition, it was noted that the 13-19 age group was a priority although work was undertaken with a younger group. Early Years and Childcare was supporting work with the 10-13 age group.
Members noted that the Connexions Service would be delivered by South Central Connexions Partnership and the whole service would be reorganised and delivered by one organisation. It was hoped to develop the strong partnership further.
RESOLVED:
That the progress of the Hampshire County Youth Service during the year 2003/04 be noted and the Annual Report be welcomed.
85. CITIZENSHIP WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which provided information about the contribution of the Youth Service to Hampshire County Council's Education Department's citizenship work with young people. The report highlighted the delivery of citizenship education, current practice, key issues for future development and acknowledged citizenship education to encourage joint working and the key role of the Youth Service. Particular reference was made to the identification of ways in which young people could engage and East Hampshire District Council's Citizenship Scheme was highlighted as an example of good practice which had responded to young peoples' ideas. It was noted that the Youth Service promoted the voice of young people and that a Department of Education and Skills recent report had expressed concerns about the post 16 age group so one of the key roles for the Youth Service would be to deliver citizenship to them.
Members noted from Della Hamerton that the Drop In Centre at Hedge End was widely used by the young people in that area and that these Centres should be more widely available around the County. Young People felt at ease talking to Counsellors who were of a similar age and who had been through the same life experiences. She advised that she had recently chaired a district wide youth conference which had brought together 60 young people and adults from local schools, colleges and youth service providers. The topics of conversation had focussed on transport, facilities and the police and the young people had participated in productive workshops and a question and answer session. As a result a youth forum every three months had been welcomed. Members agreed that the information provided was invaluable to the continued work of citizenship education.
Members of the Panel asked the County Youth Officer to contact all the Districts to present the citizenship education programme as delivered by East Hampshire District Council.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the current contribution of the Youth Service to the citizenship education be welcomed and the report be noted.
(ii) That the County Youth Service continue to work in partnership with schools and district councils to support citizenship education.
(iii) That the County Youth Service continue to develop creative ways of delivering citizenship education to those young people who are 16+ or who are not engaged in full time education.
86. YOUTH SERVICE WORK IN THE HART DISTRICT
The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (item 7 in the Minute Book) setting out information about Youth Service Work in the Hart District including references to the key youth work issues, current work and planned developments.
The Senior Youth Worker advised that he had been working hard to improve areas of curriculum development relating to healthy living, social inclusion, democracy and decision making, personal and social skills, new and challenging experiences and partnerships.
Members' attention was drawn to the successful development programme delivered at Frogmore Community College to pupils who were at risk of exclusion and he read to Members some of the positive comments received from the School to the Youth Service about the programme and added that he was looking at ways of having more impact.
He pointed out that the photographic project for disengaging young people had proved successful and all nine young people had been accredited which was the first stage towards an A level in Photography.
In addition to the report the Youth Workers were developing two more projects in the District to respond to local needs.
Della Hamerton suggested that the photograph of the Police talking to the young people should be turned into a poster and circulated around the County to highlight the working relationship of the Police with young people.
RESOLVED
That the current developments in Youth Work in the Hart District be welcomed.
87. THE FUTURE OF THE AWARD PROJECT - A DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WESSEX YOUTH OFFENDING TEAM AND HAMPSHIRE COUNTY YOUTH SERVICE
The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) providing information on The Award Project, the opportunities for and implications of keeping it operational beyond September 2004.
The County Youth Officer advised that the Partnership Project with the Wessex Youth Offending Team (YOT) was a successful way of engaging with young people who had received a warning from the Police or who were at risk of offending and who wished to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Members favoured Option 1 to maintain the status quo with the Project continuing to operate with a possibility of further development and for the Wessex Youth Offending Team to continue to be able to provide both accommodation and line management for the project. Members unanimously supported the funding of the Project primarily from the balance on the Project Development Grants and agreed that additional funding from the voluntary sector should be explored and various contacts were suggested.
RESOLVED
That the Executive Member for Education be advised that the Panel supports the balance from the Project Development Grants funding the Award Project for the remainder of the financial year.
88. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS 2004/05
The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) summarising Project Development Grant applications received since the last meeting and recommending to the Executive Member for Education allocations totalling £16,550.
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Education that the Grant allocations as summarised below be approved and the balance of £48,730 be retained to fund The Award Project - A Duke of Edinburgh's Award Project in partnership with Wessex Youth Offending Team (YOT) and Hampshire County Youth Service.
Reference No Name Grant
Y298 Fareham and Gosport Young Carers £4,000
Y299 Winchester Detached Youth Work Project £2,250
Y301 Millennium Volunteers £4,000
Y303 Youth Clubs Hampshire and The Isle of Wight £2,300
Y304 TKs Club £4,000
TOTAL £16,550
89. COMBINED YOUTH JUSTICE MINUTES
The Panel received the minutes of the Combined Youth Justice Standing Conference held on 24 March 2004.
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