An extraordinary meeting of Wiltshire Council’s cabinet (May 15) has voted through the plan for youth services presented by Councillor Laura Mayes (pictured), cabinet member for children’s services.
This community-led model which devolves responsibilities to the Area Boards, was drawn up in response to the loud protests that followed big cuts to the Council’s budget for youth services.
The meeting was attended by more than 40 young people as well as representatives from existing community youth groups across Wiltshire. They contributed to the two-hour debate, asking a wide-range of questions and offering their views.
Key features of the planned new model include the development of a community-led youth offer in each area where young people and the community will be encouraged to identify and design a varied menu of youth activities.
To support this, funding will be devolved to area boards which will each have a named community youth officer. Their role will shift from providing direct youth work to enabling voluntary and community groups to develop provision to meet local needs.
“They will be the ‘go to’ person for advice and support on youth related issues, with a strong focus on building community capacity by assisting voluntary and community sector groups, encouraging volunteering and making the most out of community resources.”
“Community youth officers will have close partnerships with a range of youth settings, including schools. They will also have an important role in coordinating positive activities for young people with disabilities.”
The plans also include giving more of a voice and influence to young people by replacing youth advisory groups with Local Youth Networks (LYNs) as a sub group of community area boards. LYNs will advise area boards, recommend local priorities and help monitor the quality and effectiveness of youth activities.
The Council has had to devise a plan that still covers its statutory duties notably under the 1996 Education Act’s section 507B which requires the Council – as far as reasonably practicable – to secure for qualifying young people access to sufficient positive leisure-time activities which improve their wellbeing – and sufficient facilities for those activities.
The Council also had to be mindful of the Equality Act (2010.)
In a lengthy risk register document accompanying the papers before the cabinet meeting, it was noted that: “Community area boards could divert funding for positive activities to other priorities in the community.”
The risk was spelled out: “Checks and balances may not be in place. This may result in a sufficient offer of positive activities not being made available within the community area. The Council’s 507B statutory duty (Education Act 1996) may therefore not be met.”
Another area of potential risk that the new policy poses concerns ‘safeguarding’. The plan is not very clear as to how young people will be kept safe while the new system is implemented – area-based support workers employed and volunteers trained.
