Agenda item

To receive an update on youth activities and consider any applications for youth grants.

Remaining Budgets:

Young People Grants:

Full grant report can be seen under agenda item 15.

Cllr Mark Verbinnen as lead Member for young people, gave an update to the meeting. A Local Youth Network (LYN) meeting was held on 5 June where the group discussed varying the locations for the LYN meeting, a range of possible events for young people and the youth grants.

Cllr Verbinnen had attended the Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team’s activity at Lords Walk in Amesbury. This was an event which had been supported by a Stonehenge Area Board grant and was well attended, with the young people in attendance really enjoying themselves. He had also attended a Scout group and a visited a youth camp in Amesbury.

The Buzz Action Foundation, who had also previously received grants from the Stonehenge Area Board and had a grant application which would be considered at the meeting, gave a presentation on their work. Details were given on their work and events such as their outdoor activity area in Amesbury, indoor curling at the Youth Café and a circus workshop in Durrington where the ariel activities rig was very popular. 

Young People Grants

·       Buzz Action Foundation CIO, Amesbury Youth Café and Tuesday Night Youth Club, amount requested £5,000.

The applicant had already spoken in support of the project; however, they answered some questions which councillors had. It was explained that all the money applied for would be put towards the organisations youth work and was not related to the circus club. The Youth Café and Tuesday Night Youth Club were aimed at teenagers and engaged with about 25 to 60 children, for 44 weeks of the year.

Cllr Graham Wright moved a motion to approve the grant in full as he had seen the groups work in action and thought that it was first class. This motion was seconded by Cllr Monica Devendran.

Cllr Verbinnen did not take part in the vote on this item due to his previously declared interest.

Decision

The Buzz Action Foundation CIO was awarded £5,000 towards the Amesbury Youth Cafe and Tuesday Night Youth Club.

Reason – The application met the Young People grant criteria 2023/24.

·       Splash Community First, Splash in the Stonehenge Area, £5,000.

A representative of Splash Community First spoke in support of their application.

Councillors asked questions of the applicant.

The application did not break down the activities that were planned and councillors requested further details. It was explained that they delivered holidays and activities for young people with difficulties (who met the criteria), these young people lived in the area and would be taken to various locations to undertake activities. This helped the young people to be free of any issues in the local area and to mix with other young people.

In response to a question regarding how the Board could be assured that the activities were for young people from the area, the applicant highlighted that during 2021/22 the organisation had worked with 36 young people from the area and they had accessed 156 sessions, which equated to 4.3 sessions per young person.

In response to a question regarding the legal status of Splash Community First and its finances, the applicant explained that Splash had been externally run and then was taken in as part of Community First. As a youth worker for the organisation, they were unsure of further financial details.

Members debated the application and Cllr Graham Wright proposed that the full amount of £5,000 be awarded, with the condition that £2,500 would be held back pending the Board receiving a presentation from Splash at a future meeting with satisfactory feedback from young people undertaking the activities. If the Board were happy following that, the remaining £2,500 would be released. Officer advice was sought as to whether this was a valid course of action.

David Redfern, Director, Leisure, Culture and Communities stated that the application had met the grant criteria, and it was highlighted that no grant money was awarded without the correct checks being made. If the Board were minded to accept Cllr Wrights proposal, it was valid.

Cllr Wright’s motion was seconded by Cllr Mark Verbinnen and put to the vote.

Decision

Splash Community First was awarded £5,000 towards their Splash in the Stonehenge Area Project, with the condition that £2,500 be held back pending a satisfactory presentation at a future Area Board meeting.

Reason – The application met the Young People grant criteria 2023/24.