Archived decisions

Contact: Malcolm Rittman, County Youth Officer, Tel: 01962 846370,

email: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The report summarises recent youth service developments and updates Members on current issues including: `Mind the Gap', the youth service apprenticeship scheme for young workers; Hampshire County Youth Council initiatives; UK Youth Parliament; outline plans for additional youth service funding; building improvements.

1.2 The youth work matters covered in this report, meet a number of corporate aims. The youth apprenticeship scheme, engages young people in the County Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament, enabling them to maximising their life opportunities, aim 1 and improve their chances of economic prosperity, aim 3. Improvements to youth work buildings and increasing detached work assists with provides improved support for young people and assists with building strong and safe communities, aim 4, as well as improving services for young people, aim 5.

2 `Mind the Gap' - youth service apprenticeship scheme

2.1 Mind the Gap is a course run by the Hampshire County Youth Service development and training team for young people who are interested in becoming youth workers. The course took place between October and April and consisted of four training days and two residential weekends. Twelve young people successfully completed the initial programme and will be awarded their certificates at a celebration event to be held on 4 July 2005.

2.2 The programme is designed as a pathway into youth work and offers training appropriate to the needs of the young worker. It is accredited by the Open College Network `Youthtrain accreditation package'. It consists of four units planning, promoting, developing and delivering an event or activity. Each of the units can be attained at either level one or two. The young workers are required to undertake a voluntary placement and a project involving other young people.

2.3 The programme enables young workers to continue in their current role and prepares them for permanent youth work posts. One member of the group has been appointed to a youth worker post.

2.4 The programme is currently being evaluated and a new group is actively being recruited for a further course due to start in the autumn.

3 Hampshire County Youth Council

3.1 The past three months has been active and productive both across the county and in districts for the Hampshire County Youth Council.

3.2 One of the significant activities undertaken this year has been the restructuring of the Hampshire County Youth Council (HCYC). The purpose of the change is to make the HCYC more representative and accessible. In future, the HCYC will consist of two elected representatives from each of the eleven districts. In addition to the officer posts, all members will hold a portfolio and work with other young people in similar roles such as Connexions and Care Action Team bursary holders. To maintain a culture of openness, the HCYC will actively encourage individual young people to attend all meetings. As some young people find Winchester an inconvenient venue, meetings in future will be held around the county in five different venues.

3.3 Working parties have considered:

.1 Fair trade - a `Fair Play' gig was held in Portsmouth raising over £750

.2 Anti-bullying - the group is currently drafting a policy for Hampshire County Youth Council

.3 A HCYC Website - the group launched a new website at the annual general meeting

.4 Plans for the annual general meeting.

3.4 This year's annual general meeting was an extremely successful event, involving a high number of young people. The programme included addresses from County Councillors, officers and ex-HCYC members, the chairperson's report, introducing new representatives and the formal election of officers. Entertainment included `The Concept' (the band which won the battle of the bands) and a performance from Costello Technology College in Basingstoke, who won their heat in the Rock Challenge - an event that Hampshire County Youth Council has been supporting.

3.5 Other activities have included meeting with the Children's Commissioner of New Zealand and attending a transport seminar organised by the Hampshire Strategic Partnership.

4 UK Youth Parliament

4.1 Since taking up their posts on February 1^st the Hampshire elected youth parliament members (MYPs) have been extremely active. MYPs have:

.1 attended the United Kingdom Youth Parliament South East Region training residential, which Hampshire was proud to host earlier this year at Avon Tyrrell

.2 participated in the Hampshire County Youth Council and local youth council meetings

.3 held meetings with Senior Youth Workers

4.2 The work and individual achievements of MYPs are attached in appendix 1.

5 Youth service buildings

5.1 It is proposed to refurbish the Fleet youth centre at Court Moor school during the autumn. This will be a complete upgrading of the centre's facilities including kitchen, toilets, new office, improving access and levelling the open space to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

5.2 Additional funding for the project has been agreed from Connexions to assist with the office and Early Years and Childcare Unit to improve access and storage for the playgroup who use the building.

6 Additional funding

6.1 At the full council meeting in March 05, £250,000 was allocated to the youth service subject to cabinet approval of a business plan.

7. Impact Assessment

7.1 No adverse impact on race or equalities has been identified in the development of this report.

8. Personnel Implications

8.1 The youth service apprenticeship scheme should improve the recruitment of staff as young workers are appointed to established posts. It is anticipated that all the additional funding will be spent on the employment of staff. Providing recruitment is successful there will be a requirement for the service to ensure induction, development and training processes are put in place.

9. Financial Implications

9.1 Subject to approval the additional funding of £250,000 will employ additional staff. The second youth service apprenticeship scheme programme will be funded from the Cabinet priority initiative.

10. Crime Prevention Issues

10.1 It has been demonstrated that good quality youth work reduces the likelihood of some young people from being involved in crime. The increase in detached work will support the building of safer communities and assist with the diversion of young people from crime.

11. Recommendations

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.

None.

Appendix 1

MYP - Basingstoke & Test Valley North

· Compiled a questionnaire for circulation schools & colleges to identify views of young people about services and general issues

· Meeting with local MP and election candidates

· Looking into the possibility of meeting with Children's Commissioner

· Article published in local newspaper and school magazine

· Worked with Basingstoke Youth Council on ballot box campaign

Deputy MYP- Basingstoke & Test Valley North

· Attended Children's Rights Alliance, England(CRAE) meeting

· Campaigning in local area to promote elections to young people

· Gained a place on the Indian Summer School

· Article published in local newspaper

· Developed website for HCYC

MYP - Fareham & Gosport

· Been to Winchester to talk and debate with MPs and party leaders

· Spoken at a Citizenship Teachers Conference

· Article in local paper

· Congratulations letter from one of the schools organisations received highlight how a the School was very proud of MYP's achievement.

Deputy MYP - Fareham & Gosport

· Working on anti-bullying strategy

· Gained place on Indian Summer school

· Promoting student run school councils

· Arranged meeting between students and head teacher

MYP - Winchester & Eastleigh

· Spoken at Citizenship Teachers Conference

· Organising The Fing dance night with Eastleigh Youth Council

· Joined English Secondary Students' Association (ESSA)

· Assisting with progression of Winchester Youth Forum & written to Winchester City Council

· Written to Daily Echo and Hampshire Chronicle about monthly column, article published

· Judged BT's `Seen and Heard' applications

· Written to Malcolm Rittman re travel passes for MYPs

· Campaigning on behalf of `don't be harmed be alarmed'

· Meeting with local MP

· Gained local young person of the year award

· Questioned Robin Cook MP at Power Enquiry event

MYP - Hart & Rushmoor

· Met local Cllr for Rushmoor

· Researching setting up a youth café in Farnborough

· Written to local companies to gain funding for Healthy lifestyles event day with HCYC - gained £500 so far

· Compiled questionnaire and sent to schools

· Attended Connexions Forum

· Written to local paper re monthly column

MYP - East Hants and Havant

· Attended East Hants local council academy

· Organised HCYC meeting venue for Petersfield

· Met Local MP

· Spoken to people involving skate park built in Bordon, which was designed for bikes. Attending their next meeting

· Had interview on Quay FM radio

· Contacted local newspaper about being MYP