HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1 It is recommended that the Executive Lead Member for Children and Families approves Youth Opportunity Fund grant applications as follows:

Name of project	Recommended Grant
Wickham Skate Park	£6,745
Havant Youth Sail Training	£14,975
Eastleigh Youth Counselling Service	£5,000
NGS - Next Generation Socialisation	£10,475
	Total £37,475

2) Issues Covered in Report:

2.1. The decision supports the following Hampshire County Council priority.

"Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all" - by supporting organisations that provide positive activities for children and young people.

"Maximising well being" - by supporting organisations that deliver services to children and young people or are funded by children and young people or aim to help vulnerable children and young people.

2.2. The decision supports the following Aims of the children Act:

As well as enabling voluntary organisations, grants help them to achieve the five outcomes of Every Child Matters by encouraging young people to stay safe, be healthy, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well being.

3) Recommendations:

3.1. It is recommended that the Executive Member for Children and Families approves Youth Opportunity Fund grant applications for 2008/2009 totalling £37,475 as detailed in 3 of this report.

.

MAIN REPORT

1) Purpose of the Report:

1.1. Grants over £5,000 from the Youth Opportunities Fund require the approval of the Executive Member. The report recommends the Executive Lead Member for Children and Families allocate grants totalling £37,475 on this occasion from the Youth Opportunity Fund.

2) Contextual Information:

2.1. Youth Opportunity Fund grants are intended to give young people, aged between 13 and 19 years, more choice and the opportunity to take greater control over what is available in their area. The funds are to be distributed at young people's discretion on projects raised by young people to improve things to do and places to go in their area. The funds, give by the Government, were made available in September 2006 with additional funding being allocated in April 2008, these are to be distributed and used by March 2009.

Youth Opportunity Funds are intended to involve young people, especially hard to reach young people, in identifying positive activities and things to do; and to support their role as decision makers, grant givers and project leaders.

Groups of young people from Hampshire who are aged between 13-19 years can apply for grants. Projects that involve or benefit groups of vulnerable young people will be given additional weighting in the decision making processes.

2.2. Supporting young people and youth organisation through the Youth Opportunity Fund extends the capacity to increase delivery of effective youth work and supports Corporate Priorities. Providing positive activities for young people leads to safer and more secure communities, the personal and social development of young people leads to maximising their well being and the improvement of facilities enhances the quality of place. As well as enabling youth work organisations grants help them to work towards the five outcomes of Every Child Matters by encouraging young people to stay safe, be healthy, enjoy and achieve make a positive contribution and achieve economic well being.

3) Key Issues:

3.1. Grant applications for approval at this meeting.

3.1 Wickham Skate Park, Winchester

A grant of £6,745 is recommended. The grant will be used to repair existing and purchase new equipment for the skate park. The new equipment will encourage young people to be healthy through exercise and will provide a safe environment for them to meet. The skate park plays a vital role in the area and is valuable community and leisure facility. The grant bid has been developed by the young people with the help of Youth Workers and the project is supported by Wickham Parish Council.

3.2 Havant Youth Sail Training Scheme, Havant Arts Centre

A grant of £14,975 is recommended. The grant will be used to increase the facilities of the Havant Youth Sail Training Scheme (HYSTS). Havant Youth Sail Training Scheme is a busy and oversubscribed sailing club and in order to maintain their RYA accreditation and keep up with demands for membership the scheme needs to expand. The grant will be used to help fund a Senior Instructor to lead/conduct activities both on and off the water; provide a third rescue boat; maintain existing boats in the fleet to meet H & S requirements and fund fuel for the rescue/safety boats to ensure they are available for members at all times.

3.3 Eastleigh Youth Counselling Service, Eastleigh Civic Centre

A grant of £5,000 is recommended. The grant will be used to make the Eastleigh Youth Counselling Service more visual in the community to reach as many young people as possible and to locate those in need. The grant will be used to provide extra hours every week for more counselling as there is a waiting list. To provide placements for work experience and training and also to provide money for advertising and rent. The young people feel it is very important for them to have access to counselling, to know their counsellors and for the counsellors to be able to visit the Youth Clubs. They feel that they benefit from the help with behavioural problems and they know that everything is confidential.

3.4 NGS - Next Generation Socialisation, YZone, Fair Oak, Eastleigh

A grant of £10,755 is recommended. The grant will be used for the continuation of the weekly youth group meetings for young people of 13+ who are unable to access mainstream youth provision because of social communications difficulties. These young people are socially vulnerable because of conditions such as Autism, Aspergers or ADHD or because of social circumstances. The grant would be used for a Youth leader for 4 hours a week, every week,,2 Youth workers and 1 Project Youth worker for three hours a week and also games and equipment to enhance social communications, funding for special projects, for drama therapists and for outings.

3 Conclusions:

Youth Opportunity Fund 2008 - 09

4 Consultation

5.1 All applications are approved by the relevant District young people scrutiny panel before being submitted for ratifications by the Hampshire County Council.

6. Legal Implications

6.1 Whilst all organisations in receipt of grant funding receive a grant agreement specifying the terms and conditions of funding, these are not legally binding.

7. Financial Implications

7.1 The recommended grants can be met from within the 2008/2009 revenue budget provision

8. Personnel Implications

7.1 No personnel implications have been identified for County Council staff. However, the recommendations may lead to a greater security in funding within the voluntary sector and may lead to increased employment.

9. Impact Assessment

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

10. Crime Prevention Issues

10.1 It has been demonstrated that good youth work reduces the likelihood of some young people being involved in crime. These recommendations will lead to improving partnerships between those involved in youth work by supporting as range of positive opportunities for young people.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION: