Archived decisions

Contact: Ray Barnard, Youth Service Manager, Tel: 01962 846424,

email: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report summarises the progress and achievements of Hampshire County Youth Service (HCYS) in relation to nationally set targets for local authority youth services and the 2004/05 Transforming Youth Work Development Fund Plan (TYWDFP).

1.2 This report also introduces the published annual report of the service entitled "Quality Youth Work in Hampshire" and briefly gives examples of good youth work practice from around the county. The format of the annual report has been changed this year from a thirty-two page booklet to a six page magazine.

1.3 The work of HCYS highlighted in the annual report supports the Corporate Strategic Aims (1), Maximising Life Opportunities, and (4), Building Safer Communities, by engaging young people in a range of personal development opportunities. The quality assurance processes referred to in the report help to meet Aim (5) Improving Services, and the training opportunities included contribute to Aim (6), Developing Staff and Councillors.

2 Measuring Performance

2.1 For the year ending 31 March 2005, HCYS planned to assess the performance of the service against each of the four key indicators identified by the Minister for Children, Young People and Families.

2.2 The level of `reach' of HCYS into the resident 13-19 population for 2004/05 was 24.9% against the national benchmark of 25%.

2.3 The level of active participation of the 13-19 population in HCYS managed youth work for 2004/05 was 16.6% against the national benchmark of 15%.

2.4 Given the level of actual resourcing against the level aspired to in the Department for Education and Skills (DFES) document Resourcing Excellent Youth Services, the reach of HCYS, and the percentage of active participants, exceeds expectations.

2.5 Regarding the national benchmarks for recorded and accredited outcomes, the past year has been dedicated to HCYS establishing recording systems and to the delivery of relevant staff training, to ensure challenging targets can be met and accurately measured, from April 2005.

3 Transforming Youth Work Fund Implementation Plan 2004/05

3.1 Appendix 1 of this report shows the targets set out in the Transforming Youth Work Development Plan (TYWDFP) for 2004/05 and indicates progress and achievements during the year.

3.2 Good progress has been achieved against most targets. Particularly interesting developments relating to the targets include:

· Improved working relationships with the voluntary sector, including regular meetings with officers of the Hampshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services and a successful joint conference.

· Increased engagement by young people in local democratic processes, examples include greater involvement in the County Youth Council and in local youth forums.

· The delivery of the HCYS training programme, with increased take-up of the NVQ Level 2 courses and 16 members of staff on the foundation degree course at Southampton University.

4 "Quality Youth Work in Hampshire" Hampshire County Youth Service Annual Report 2004/05

4.1 The printed version of this year's annual report is entitled "Quality Youth Work in Hampshire" and is due to be published in time to be distributed at the June meeting of the Youth Panel. The report highlights examples of good youth work practice from across the county. It also contains facts and figures about the service including:

· Total annual attendance of 139,998 young people at 172 projects across the county.

· Ninety (equating to 53%) Youth projects operate in partnership with other services and agencies.

· Funding raised from external sources: £1,148,700.

· Grant aid to the voluntary sector: £195,600.

4.2 "Quality Youth Work in Hampshire" is deliberately briefer than the annual reports produced by the service in recent years. The new layout is designed to be more magazine-like in style and readily accessible.

4.3 Some examples of good youth work practice included in "Quality Youth Work in Hampshire" are:

· "Mind the gap": an exciting new course aimed at providing young people with a pathway into youth work.

· The use of imaginative problem solving exercises to help build the confidence, personal skills and teamwork of young people.

· Mobile youth provision used to reach and inform young people in rural areas.

· The use of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award access credits as a way of accrediting young people's learning.

· Informal group work with young parents.

· An innovative music project based in Leigh Park.

4.4 The annual report also refers to the findings of the 2004 staff survey, the survey of young people using the service and the internal inspection week. These quality assurance processes indicate high level satisfaction rates amongst staff and young people, and the generally good quality of the projects inspected.

4 Legal implications

5.1 None

5 Financial implications

6.1 None

6 Personnel implications

7.1 None

8 Impact assessment

8.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

9 Crime prevention issues

9.1 By diverting young people away from crime, youth work can have a positive impact on reducing crime and the fear of crime.

10 Views of the Local County Councillor

10.1 Not applicable to this report.

11 Recommendations

That the progress of the Hampshire County Youth Service during the year 2004/05 be noted and the Annual Report be welcomed.

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