MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSON’S COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, 26 MARCH 2003 COMMENCING AT 2.00 PM

Present :

Mr A J Mellor, Mrs T M Butchers, Mrs D Gardiner, Mr J F Howe, Mrs M J Miller, Mr D G Williams

Portfolio Holders :

Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs J L Wareham

Co opted (non voting) :

Mr A Clough - Youth MP

Apologies :

Mr C R Hancock

 15.      MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on the 7 January 2003 be confirmed.

16.      THE ISLE OF WIGHT CHILDREN’S FUND

The Committee received the report of the Isle of Wight Children’s Fund Manager which provided Members with an update on the Children’s Fund 2002/2003. Members were advised that the Children’s fund was funded by the Department for Education and Skills and targeted at 5-13 year old’s to address disadvantages and inequalities derived from child poverty and social exclusion. The Fund had bid for and been allocated a total of £1,779,000,00 over four years (2202 to 2006).

The children’s Fund Manager outlined fifteen service developments that had been agreed based on local consultation. These included :

           •          Young Persons Transport Researcher - addressing issues raised at the Wight To Be Heard Conference in 2002.

           •          Young Carers - to establish training, provide resources and support schools

           •          Looked after Children Drop in Centre

Members were advised that a Children’s Fund Partnership formed a Steering Group to direct the programme manager which was chaired by the Head of Children’s Services. It was indicated that next year it was hoped that the fund would have greater capacity to undertake more developmental work. The Committee commended and supported the work of the Children’s Fund.

RESOLVED :

           (a)       THAT the Committee note the update on progress of the Isle of Wight Children’s Fund

           (b)       THAT further updates both local and national be brought back to the Committee as appropriate.

17.      ISLE OF WIGHT YOUTH COUNCIL AND TRANSFORMING YOUTH WORK FUND

Consideration was given to the report of the Youth and Community Service which had been requested following the Committee’s meeting on the 19 December 2002. As Members were aware, a development in the aim of Local Authorities was to involve more young people in consultation and the decision making process. This would be achieved by the establishment of different types of Youth Councils, Forums and Parliaments. Ten participatory organisations had been researched to ascertain key areas of success that supported the inclusion of young people. The Youth Empowerment Worker outlined the key factors that had been found to be most important in the process, including :

           •          The process being led by young people

           •          Election process

           •          Close partnership working with schools

           •          Including young people that were not in school.

The Committee noted that the Best Value Review of the Youth and Community Service recommended the service actively promote the establishment of the Youth council

With regard to the Youth Council’s proposed Constitution it was clarified that the elected representative would be elected for a period of a year.

RESOLVED :

           (a)       THAT the Committee support and encourage the Isle of Wight Youth Council (IWYC) and incorporation in the decision making processes and to keep the IWYC informed of developments and to consider the IWYC as a valuable means for two way communication between the Isle of Wight Council and the Island’s Young People

           (b)       THAT the Isle of Wight Youth Councils Constitution be amended to clarify that representatives be elected for a period of 1 year.

CHAIRMAN