Agenda item

(To receive a report from Stuart Carlton, Assistant Director for Children's Services, which provides the Committee with a progress report on the development of the Lincolnshire Youth offer and will update on current service delivery, plans to identify gaps in delivery and the action plan to address any gaps)

Consideration was given to a report from the Head of Service – Families Working Together, which provided the Committee with information relating to the progress made on the development of the Lincolnshire Youth Offer and provided an update on current service delivery, plans to identify gaps in delivery and advice of the action plan to address any gaps.

It was reported that a number of actions had been undertaken to try and establish the level of participation and engagement by young people in positive activities, but that securing accurate data on this was a challenge.  It was highlighted that there was an estimated 72,000 young people aged between 11 and 19 in Lincolnshire and that 80,000 young people had registered to take part in activities such as sports based activities, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, National Citizenship Service, Scouts, Cadets etc.

In September 2013 a positive activity survey for young people had been launched, which had received 242 responses.  From the responses, it was hoped to identify what positive activities young people were involved in; the type of activities and also identify what young people thought was missing from their localities.

Other areas highlighted included the creation of the development hub; Positive Futures; and the real bus – mobile units.

A summary of Youth Centre provision was detailed on pages 109/110 of the agenda which totalled 40 centres.  It was highlighted that the Youth and Community Development workers were engaged with 17 new locations being explored for the delivery of positive activities.

Full details of the integrated youth offer were detailed in the report.

In conclusion, it was reported that there was significant evidence to suggest that large numbers of young people were accessing a range of positive activities and that by working with a range of providers, Children's Services could ensure that the activities that young people wanted were delivered in Lincolnshire, that the gaps in service were minimised, ensure the best deployment of the mobile units, and ensure Positive Futures continue to be responsive to emerging needs.

During discussion, particular reference was made for the need to include provision for all in the community; involve the views of young people in all that was planned; and make youth activities available to young people who needed it most, i.e. young people in rural communities, immigrants and young carers.  Reference was also made to ensuring that members of the Youth Cabinet were involved in getting the message out to other young people in the county.  Another issue raised was that some of the activities required uniforms/kit, which some of the young people were unable to afford.  It was highlighted that there were some grants available for groups to apply for which might help in this type of situation.

It was also highlighted that reference to Healthwatch 'status unknown' needed removing from the Draft Priority Action Plan: Delivering Positive for Youth (DfE, Dec 2011) attached at Appendix 2 to the report.  It was highlighted that when the action plan was written, Healthwatch was in shadow form.

Note: Councillor Mrs L Rollings wished to have it recorded that she was involved with the Youth Centre in Gainsborough.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted.

2.      That the comments raised by the Committee, as detailed above, be fed into the Action Plan for the Lincolnshire Youth Offer.