Contact: Futures Group Steering Group

_ Lise-Anne Boissiere; 01962 847967; [email protected] (Head of Leader's Office)

_ Peter Colenutt; 01962 846157; [email protected] (Assistant Education Officer)

_ Marcos Frangos; 01962 813811; [email protected] (Access & Equalities Manager, PBRS)

_ Martin Goff; 01962 846185; [email protected] (Assistant Education Officer)

_ Chris Locke; 01962 826038; [email protected] (Head of Learning, Development and Change)

_ Andrea Prior; 01962 831009; [email protected] (IT consultant)

_ Nick Suffolk; 01962 826734; [email protected] (Exhibitions Officer)

1. Summary

1.1 This paper contains a proposal to pilot an interactive, futures project in a small number of local schools, as part of the citizenship curriculum. Aimed at pupils in years 8-10, the project would seek to engage young people on their local community and improve understanding of local government and its services.

1.2 Participating pupils would be tasked with developing a 10 minute, multimedia presentation on their vision for the future of Hampshire. HCC staff would assist pupils in developing proposals, and the project would culminate in an inter-school competition. The achievements of all pupils would be recognised, with local members returning to schools in subsequent months to provide feedback to pupils on how their vision could be realised.

1.3 It is anticipated that the project would contribute to each of the following five outcomes for children and young people from the Every Child Matters agenda:

· Be healthy

· Stay safe

· Enjoy and achieve

· Make a positive contribution

· Achieve economic well-being

1.4 Issues raised will reflect all of the County Council's corporate aims:

· Maximising life opportunities

· Stewardship of the environment

· Achieving economic prosperity

· Building strong and safe communities

· Improving services

· Developing councillors and staff

2. Background

2.1 The Futures Group was set up in December 2004. The group was established by the Leader of the County Council to bring together highly motivated members of staff at junior management level, to feed into the council's strategic thinking.

2.2 At its first meeting, the Futures Group identified several areas where it could add value to the existing work of the Council. It was considered that a project with schools could contribute to a number of these, notably:

· the capacity of the County Council to look to, prepare for and respond to future challenges through scenario planning and future basing work.

· public and young people's engagement with local government.

· awareness of the County Council and its services.

· innovation and creative thinking amongst our staff.

2.3 The idea of working with schools to engage young people on their local community and improve understanding of local government and its services received a positive reception at informal Cabinet on 12^th September. As a result of that discussion, the Futures group was asked to work up a detailed proposal which would:

· Incorporate a range of schools;

· Enhance pupils' understanding of the big issues the County Council faces;

· Enable the Council to respond to the issues pupils raise.

2.4 Following discussion of the detailed proposal at Informal Cabinet on 14^th November, Cabinet were content for the Leader to write to schools inviting expressions of interest in the competition, in advance of a decision being taken on whether to proceed with the pilot at Public Cabinet on 19^th December. In the event of the proposal attracting considerable interest, Cabinet asked the Futures Group to consider incorporating an elimination round within the pilot programme.

3. The Project

3.1 The Futures Group would like to undertake a pilot project with local schools to engage young people in Hampshire on the subject of their local community and to improve their understanding of local government and its services.

4. The proposal

Who would be involved?

4.1 The project would be aimed at pupils in years 8-10 in the following six secondary schools drawn from across the county:

4.2 All the county's secondary schools were invited to express an interest in participating in the pilot. Independent and SEN schools were also approached and, in total, over 30 expressions of interest were received. The response has been exceptional with almost half of Hampshire secondary schools replying. Given the level of interest it is proposed to hold an elimination round to ensure all schools have the opportunity to contribute in some way.

What would the task consist of?

4.3 Teams of three to five pupils would be asked to develop a ten minute, multi-media presentation which would cover:

· Their local neighbourhood now: current likes/ dislikes;

· Their local neighbourhood in 2020: what it should offer their future selves, families, and friends;

4.4 The presentations would be delivered to an audience of classmates, parents, local interested parties, and be judged by a panel comprising of the Leader of the Council, the President of the Youth Parliament, and a representative of the media.

4.5 A cash prize of £1000 would be awarded to the school that delivers the best overall presentation, with £500 awarded to the school in second place. All the pupils involved would receive a certificate of achievement, and a £25 voucher for a high street retailer. It is also proposed that those schools involved in the elimination round should also be rewarded with a sum of £50.

4.6 The presentation afternoon would take place at Intech in the week beginning 27th March, 2006.

How would the council respond to the issues raised by the pupils?

4.7 Local members would return to schools in subsequent weeks. The issues raised by the pupils in their presentation could be a starting point for future links between HCC and schools, with the pupils that took part acting as a first point of contact between members and students. Discussions might centre on how the students' thoughts and ideas could be developed in the local area, and/or highlight the barriers to change. This would be a critical element in providing pupils with an insight in to the dilemmas confronting local government members and officers.

How would the success of the pilot be evaluated?

4.8 The futures group would use feedback from schools, pupils, the judging panel and local members to evaluate the success of the project.

4.9 If the pilot were deemed a success, it is anticipated that the project could evolve into a rolling programme, with up to eight schools across the County participating each year.

5. Next Steps and Timescale

5.1 January - April 2006

· HCC staff work with schools to deliver the project

· Presentation afternoon at a suitably central venue

· Follow-up visit to schools by local members

· Evaluation of the pilot

6. Financial implications

6.1 The financial resources for this project will be met from the Futures Group budget 2005/6 and is estimated at £5,000 covering the cost of the workshop materials, the event, publicity, and prize monies.

7. Personnel implications

7.1 The Schools Project team consists of 11 officers. Team members are in the process of undergoing the Criminal Records Bureau Check, which would enable them to participate, and have been asked to obtain consent from their line managers to enable them to visit schools and undertake work on this project as required.

Recommendation:

a) that the Cabinet approve the proposals of the Futures Group and the widening of the this pilot in the light of so many expressions of interest

b) that the Futures Group organise a form of an elimination round, the details of which to be confirmed

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.

None.

N.B. The list excludes:
1. Published works
2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as
defined in the Act.