Archived decisions

Contact: Malcolm Rittman, County Youth Officer, Tel: 01962 846370, email: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report summarises recent developments in the Hampshire County Youth Service (HCYS) and updates Members on current issues including: young people involved in summer activities; an update on buildings, improvement and maintenance; Hampshire County Youth Council initiatives; Connexions developments and recording young people's learning.

1.2 The work identified in this report supports the corporate strategic aims of the County Council and the Cabinet Priority for youth.

2 Summer activities

2.1 The involvement of young people in events and activities during the summer period of July and August is an expanding area of work for the Hampshire County Youth Service. This year has been no exception. District teams and development youth workers organised over 100 events, equivalent to over 380 days of youth work involving 1768 young people. Events and activities included: summer holiday programmes, ongoing events involving music dance and drama; specific projects working with disadvantaged groups and those with special needs; exchanges and residentials including an exchange with young people from Estonia, France, Wales and Norway; summer activities for young people which supported young people throughout the summer and involved Connexions personal advisers; one-off events taking young people to Calshot, London and an arts festival; and skills training including young people completing a motor cycle qualification. Appendix 1 lists the events and numbers of young people involved.

2.2 Summer Activities are an expanding area of work which is intensive in staff time, but produces excellent outcomes for young people, which have a real impact on their lives and personal development.

3 Buildings improvement and maintenance

3.1 The main improvement scheme in 2003/04 and completed in March 2004 was Capricorn Youth Centre at Connuaght School in Rushmoor. This was a substantial refurbishment and included a new kitchen and coffee bar, improved access and toilets, as well as a complete redecoration of the youth centre. The centre now provides a good, warm and safe environment for work with young people.

3.2 The priority building improvements for 2004/05 in partnership with Property, Business and Regulatory Services are:

1 Hamble Youth Wing at Hamble School: a replacement for the existing building is expected to be completed in January 05 and fully operational by March 2005. This has been a co-operative project with funding coming from a range of providers including Eastleigh Borough Council, Hamble School, the Connexions Partnership and the Government Office in addition to Hampshire County Council.

2 Court Moor Youth Wing: at Court Moor School, Fleet, has also been identified for a complete refurbishment. It is anticipated that the work will be completed late spring or early summer next year depending on the actual costs of the scheme.

3 The Single Regeneration Board has earmarked £150,000 towards the development of a youth provision in Rowner, Gosport. The full cost of the provision will be approximately £300,000. The Youth Service along with partners is seeking opportunities for matched funding in order to progress the scheme. This will provide a very necessary base for work with young people in Gosport.

4 Hampshire County Youth Council

4.1 The Hampshire County Youth Council (HCYC) continues to grow in terms of the number of young people involved and the representation they have. The reputation of the group is growing as well as becoming increasingly recognised as an active body of committed young people. HCYC has been engaged in consultation meetings with:

1 Managers from Solent Hampshire (South Hampshire) on transport issues and key delivery points

2 Hampshire Constabulary on the Hampshire Community Strategy and the Anti-social Behaviour Bill

3 Executive Member for Education about attendance at Education meetings

4 The County manager responsible for the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.

4.2 The HCYC are currently planning a residential in November at Avon Tyrell with Connexions Bursary Holders and Hampshire Members of the UK Youth Parliament with the theme ` What it is to be a young person'.

5 Connexions update

5.1 The Connexions sub-contract with Hampshire County Council managed by the Hampshire County Youth Service formally ceased on 31 July 2004. Staff employed by the sub-contract have been successfully transferred to the South Central Connexions Partnership, who will directly manage the service from now on.

5.2 During the transition period it has been essential to ensure the service to young people has not been interrupted. A number of short-term transitional arrangements have been put in place to support the service, particularly in relation to accommodation. Longer term use of County Council premises is being managed and agreed through Property Services.

5.3 The Connexions sub-contract was successfully managed by the Youth Service and was instrumental in establishing the Connexions Service in Hampshire. The contract was successful in developing:

1 a network of agencies in districts to ensure organisations are working together by establishing local forums and management groups

2 agreements with all schools and colleges with a named personal adviser to facilitate effective Connexions support

3 Connexions centres established in most districts offering young people and the community access to information and advice. In addition, information points have been established in most education establishments and other services' delivery points

4 Personal advisers have been delivering information advice and guidance to increasing numbers of young people and where appropriate in depth on-going support.

5.4 To achieve these outcomes and to close the contract successfully has required a considerable amount of work and commitment from all those involved in the contract, the youth service management team and education personnel services.

5.5 To ensure there is an effective on-going relationship with the Connexions Partnership the Youth Service is developing a partnership agreement to develop shared areas of work. The areas include: promoting the voice of young people and support for bursary holders; support for young people especially those at risk of exclusion from school; access to information, with identified youth centres developing information points.

6 Recording Young People's Learning

6.1 The challenges of implementing the guidance issued by the Government in Resourcing Excellent Youth Services (REYS) and the targets set by Margaret Hodge for recording young people's learning were explored and debated at a recent Youth Work Development Day. In order to recognise young persons' learning, offer flexibility and opportunities for progression it was agreed to introduce two levels of recording and to re-launch the Hampshire Certificate of Achievement.

6.2 The Level One Certificate, together with a position statement and guiding principles, has been issued in a presentation folder to all staff. The additional clarity, together with the re-launch of the Hampshire Certificate of Achievement, puts the Youth Service in an excellent position to meet its target of recording outcomes for recording young people's learning.

7 Recommendations

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Education:

That the current developments in the Hampshire County 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.