Agenda item

The Area Board will be asked to adopt the Leaders Guidance for Positive Activities for Young People, the Terms of Reference for Local Youth Networks (LYNs), and commence work on establishing a LYN and approve officer delegation.

Community Area Manager (CAM), Miranda Gilmour, explained that Cabinet had adopted a new model to provide positive activities for young people, which had commenced on 1 October 2014. The Community Area Model was described as meeting each area’s needs, and therefore would be different across all of Wiltshire. It was explained that there was a dedicated youth budget which will allow the delegation of up to £1000 to the CAM for urgent projects between Area Board meetings. It was also explained that £500 would be ring-fenced to cover the cost of Local Youth Network (LYN) meetings. It was stated that up to the 31 March 2015 there was £10,000 available for local youth activities and support and that the money needed to be allocated by the end of the financial year or it would be lost. It was also stated that there would be in the region of £16,000 in the next financial year.

Miranda Gilmour outlined the Leader’s Guidance. Key objectives were explained to be creating something sustainable and strong, this was said to be reliant on the Local Youth Network (LYN), which would be a sub-group of the Area Board. The expectations were described as making sure that young people are getting what they want, and that a large portion of them were engaged in the process. The leader’s guidance was said to be reviewed at a later date, as it was at the beginning of the process. Those interested were urged to help, as there was a need for partnership working, volunteers, good ideas, and general support. 

The terms of reference for the LYN were then introduced. It was stated that the structure would be around promoting active engagement, dialogue and debate. Membership was said to include young people, an Area Board representative, a schools representative, and locally identified stakeholders. It was explained that members would be identified by the CAM and CYO, and then confirmed by the Area Board.

Ollie Phipps introduced himself as the Community Youth Officer (CYO) for Malmesbury community area, and explained that he would be working with 13-19 year olds and those up to 25 with special needs. It was stated that he would be enabling the local community to work with and support young people, getting them to engage with activities in their area. Ollie stated that he would be working with the CAM, and would be focusing on supporting, advising, guiding and helping young people engage more effectively. It was explained that he had worked with local groups and had many ideas for the future.

It was heard that the LYN would be a local youth democracy group formed primarily of young people. There would be 10 people envisaged to constitute the management board, and the LYN would have to assess the needs of local youth in order to tailor services to them.

The youth fund was described as being assigned for activities for 13-19 year olds (up to 25 with special needs) in the Malmesbury community area. Grant applications for this fund would be handled in a similar way to the on-line Community Area Grants process. They would then be considered by the LYN, CYO, and CAM, before being sent to the Area Board. The Area Board would also be able to procure services using the youth fund to support the needs highlighted by the LYN and other documents such as the Joint Strategic Assessment in order to deliver activities and services.

Questions were asked on young people not being as involved in their local parish area post-primary school. It was explained that the CYO was happy to meet with individual parishes to discuss different ways to engage local young people.

Decision:

1.     To adopt the Leaders Guidance for Positive Activities for young people and Terms of Reference for Local Youth Networks (LYNs) and commence work on establishing a LYN.

2.     That the Community Area Manager, in consultation with the Community Youth Officer and Chairman of Malmesbury Area Board, may authorise expenditure in support of positive activities for young people of up to £1,000 per project between Area Board meetings and that this will be recorded at the next available Area Board.

3.     To delegate to the Community Area Manager to manage a budget of up to £500 to cover expenditure related to the management of the LYN meetings.