Agenda item

To launch the new community-led Youth Model including:

·       How the new model works;

·       The funding and support available;

·       Meeting your Community Youth Officer (CYO);

·       Feedback from young people;

·       Questions and discussion.

Cllr Mayes introduced herself as the lead member for Children’s Services and  tasked with reviewing the youth service. The councillor explained the development of the new community-led model for youth activities as arising from the need to use funding efficiently, reach more young people, ensure sustainability of service provision and adapt activities for young people to compliment modern lifestyles. It was stressed that, whilst the model had changed, the safeguarding of vulnerable children remained a priority.

It was explained that a survey by Wiltshire Council had been carried out, receiving the largest ever response and revealing priorities for young people, including for them to have influence over how money for youth provision was spent. The Cabinet member explained there had been a great response from the voluntary sector to the model and it was keen to be involved in delivering services. It was highlighted that, under the new model, young people would shape the service to meet their needs and the Area Board would receive extra funding to provide grants to projects it deemed priorities.

Cllr Mayes detailed the funding and support available as part of the new model including a Local Youth Network (LYN) consisting of young people, members of the Area Board and anyone interested in positive activities for young people, which would decide on funding priorities and recommend them to the Area Board. It was celebrated that Devizes was the first Area Board to be holding a Youth Fair.

Sally Willox, introduced herself as the new Community Youth Officer (CYO) for the Devizes area. The officer described how she was already engaging with schools and young people and was keen to develop the capacity of positive activities in the area whilst also developing new opportunities for young people.

Potterne Cricket Club presented a case for funding to install two indoor cricket nets at Lavington School, explaining this would be a community asset rather than for the school.

Members of the public were invited to participate by way of identifying the greatest opportunity the new youth service would provide and the greatest challenge it may face.

During a question and answer session it was confirmed that the new model was not initiated earlier in the year to ensure to provision of a summer scheme for young people over the summer holidays. The public were advised that  if a safe place for young people to meet was identified as a priority, then this could be organised. The CYO advised one-to-one support would be available to those children who required it. It was explained that whilst the youth funding was specific to ages 13-19, the Area Board could support funding for younger age groups and children in rural areas. It was confirmed the leisure centre in Devizes was currently being used for activities and the centre decided the age-range of the young people involved. A question was raised over DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks, groups wanting to get involved in youth activities were advised to contact the CYO about the checks. Devizes Town Council was encouraged to send a representative for the LYN and it was noted that research was currently being undertaken into whether groups can use vehicles previously used by the Youth Service to help provide activities to young people in rural areas.

A written response to questions and statements received would be available in the printed minutes.

The public voted on responses to the questions on opportunities and challenges for the new model. It was considered that the greatest opportunity for the new youth model would be the positive engagement of young people with a wide range of organisations. The greatest challenge was thought to be finding enough local volunteers to get involved.

It was advised that the Area Board would hear an update on Youth and the LYN at the next meeting.