This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
The proposals, which have been revised following an Islandwide consultation in January and February, will see a radical change to the way youth services are provided.
The changes focus on the Island’s “youth offer” being developed and delivered through the involvement of the community and voluntary sector, with funding and support provided by the council.
The approach will also support the Island’s community and voluntary sector to reach more targeted groups of young people.
What’s planned
The proposals include:
- the council funding voluntary and community organisations to deliver a “universal youth offer” and providing quality assurance, safeguarding and performance support;
- the council ceasing to provide services directly, but allocating funding of £200,000 in 2014/2015 rising to £400,000 in the following two years;
- ensuring that the funding is for a wide range of provision across the Island, with safe and secure places for young people to go;
- a particular emphasis on ensuring young people most in need are supported by future providers (working with partner organisations) and are signposted to the appropriate providers;
- the council continuing to provide targeted youth support through the Early Help service;
- further work with town and parish councils to explore opportunities for match funding;
- developing a quality assurance and performance management framework (based on good practice) under the new approach.
Root and branch review
The proposed changes have been developed following a ‘root and branch’ review of the youth service.
The annual budget for youth services has been earmarked for £200,000 of ongoing savings from April 2014 – part of the council’s overall £28 million savings package over the next three years.
Executive member for children’s services and education, Councillor Richard Priest, said:
“A thorough consultation was carried out following the council’s decision in December to develop a new approach moving away from in-house provision. The findings were fed into the revised proposals and these are now before the Executive for discussion and decision.
“The council is facing and will continue to face major financial challenges over the coming years – and as a result has had to undertake a thorough re-evaluation of the way it operates, particularly in non-statutory areas.
“These proposals reflect the way we are having to re-think how we provide services – and have been developed with a view to offering youth services in the future through a new commissioned-based arrangement.
“The new approach is designed to create a modern and varied youth service that is accessible and inclusive, while ensuring our young people get the right support, in the right place at the right time and know where to go for the right information and advice.”
148 responses to survey
The “youth offer” consultation was aimed at young people, youth service practitioners, the voluntary and community sector and town and parish councils. It included an online survey and consultation sessions involving youth service staff, young people and other key groups.
There were 148 responses to the online survey, including 61 from young people aged 13 to 19, and 23 from parents/carers. A total of 14 focus group sessions with key stakeholders took place across the Island, attended by 237 people.
