PAPER C
CHILDREN & YOUNG
PERSONS COMMITTEE - 28th JANUARY 2004
REPORT
OF CHAIRMAN OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS COMMITTEE
To present the outcomes of the Opportunities for Young People Task Group, and to consider the monitoring of those outcomes.
To
agree a programme of monitoring of the action plan.
A
task group was established by this Committee to develop action plans for the
main recommendations which had arisen from the Best Value Review of
Opportunities for Young People.
The
work of this group has now finished, and Appendix A lists the outcomes.
As
carried out in the original review, plus staff involvement in the task group
itself.
All financial implications are contained within
existing budgets.
Appendix A Outcomes
of the work.
Best
Value Review of Opportunities for Young People
Contact Point:
Don Roe, BV Review Unit 823687 [email protected]
ANDREW MELLOR
Chairman of the Committee
The review was hindered by a
limited amount of new resources, but the enthusiasm of a range of staff from
different departments, and Members on the task group, has resulted in the
following outcomes, which can be monitored by the Children & Young Persons
Committee.
Create Post of Young People’s Co-ordinator
This as it stood could not
be resourced, but through Connexions, and the Education Directorate, a Youth
Empowerment Officer (Chris Smy) was appointed and he carries out much of the
suggested work identified for a Young Peoples Co-ordinator.
Funding for this post was
not available, but the project of a Young Peoples Web-site has been taken on by
Island Volunteers, with the involvement of the Youth Council and the Isle of
Wight Councils Software Development Team. Chris Smy to monitor its progress.
During the life span of the
Review a database of Projects for Young People was created and put onto iwight
.com. The responsibility for updating the data base now lies with the Youth and
Community Service.
Again funding for this post
was unobtainable. However the Best Value Review Team in conjunction with Human
Resources and the Young Employees Forum, have promoted Work Experience through
Heads of Service and have created a list of placements available. This has been
sent to the Islands High Schools, and the YEF will champion the scheme and
support the young people who take up the placements. The ongoing work and
monitoring will be the responsibility of Human Resources.
Local Best Value Performance Indicators
Indicators for both the
number of placements, and their quality and success, are being developed.
IWC Young Employees Forum
A group of young employees
at the IWC was initially organised for consultation. With HR & Policy Unit
support, and the energy of the young employees, this has developed into the
Forum.
This recommendation was
found, through consultation, to have little support from young people. It also
would need initial and ongoing funding, which is not available. Chris Smy has
been able to advise both West Wight and East Cowes, who are looking into
Hang-Out Shelters, including the use of research done by the Hampshire
Constabulary.
Support the One-Stop-Shop for Young People
A One-Stop-Shop is being
progressed through the Youth and Community Service and supported by the Education,
Community Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee.
To get young people’s issues
included in both the Equality &
Diversity Policy and the Race Equality Scheme
Now in place
Develop a Strategy for Young People
A Draft Youth Task Group
Strategy, was written and included the recommendations from the Best Value
Report. This was used as a working document for the Task Group.
This recommendation was not
progressed