Agenda item

The purpose of this report was for Members to give consideration to reports and presentation’s provided by Doncaster Youth Council that updated the Panel on their priorities and campaigns. The meeting also sought to identify opportunities to work more closely with Children and Young People and build up links with the Youth Council. This meeting formed part of the Take Over Challenge programme offered to children and young people across Doncaster. As part of this meeting the Youth Council job shadowed Panel Members during the course of the meeting and raised questions in relation to the agenda items.

Local Offer Review

Members were informed how in April 2016, Doncaster Council needed to identify a new way of providing a local offer to children and young people as it could no longer provide the resources and staffing.  It was explained that children and young people within clubs and youth centres took part in a consultation exercise to identify what a good local offer could look like. The findings from the consultation would then be used to inform the essential principles of a good local offer for the future.

A presentation was provided that included feedback from children and young people;

The key areas highlighted from the consultation included:

•           Links with the low levels of activity directed for females

•           Lack of consistency in terms of provision

•           Lack of access to Wi-Fi/music which was considered as quite a significant issue for young people.

•           Poor awareness of services available for young people in the local area.

•           Lack of basic provision of items such as pens.

•           Some positive comments were provided, highlighting the supporting volunteers in youth services. 

•           Meaningful awards/certificates - it was suggested that young people could get more involved in obtaining funding as a group which would also act as a positive addition to their applications/CVs as well providing an opportunity to obtain funds.

In respect of what might happen next, it was shared that there needed to be funding that targeted local issues, for example, it was recognised that in Mexborough there was a high level of anti-social behaviour. Members were reminded that providers had already secured a significant amount of funding through the opportunity area programme.

In respect of voluntary sector groups, Panel and Youth Council representatives heard how Expect Youth intended to bring together existing organisations to improve the Youth offer across the Borough.  It was explained that a grant would be made available with a set of principles in place.  It was recognised that a number of staff and volunteers were being trained to work with young people as well as being enabled to support them. 

It was explained that Leanne Hornsby, the Assistant Director, Commissioning and Business Development met regularly with Expect Youth.  It was recognised that the use of social media was an important mechanism to inform others of progress in addition to other channels of communication such as through advertising or schools. 

Members were informed that the main barriers faced by the Youth Council included effective communication and making progress.  In terms of working with the Council, it was stated that Youth Council Members had to continuously ask for actions to be undertaken.   It was also recognised how challenging it was to get support from schools.

Finally, it was felt that there should be more youth surgeries, including those to be held with residents and more opportunities to meet and work with Ward Councillors.

Curriculum for Life

A snapshot overview was provided on the Curriculum for Life offer for young people across Doncaster schools in order to be provided with support and be able to develop life skills.  It was recognised that this was a priority locally as well as nationally.

A Councillor supported the importance of Personal Social and Health Education (PHSE) and spoke about the positive work happening in Mexborough Ward involving schools and businesses. 

It was recognised that there hadn’t been as much focus previously and that a great deal of variation occurred, with some schools just covering the minimum.    It was suggested that an audit could be undertaken around PHSE to identify what was actually being covered across the Borough, when, and how much time was spent on it.  It was added that this could be raised through the Secondary Heads meeting taking place later on that week. 

In terms of funding, Members were informed that work was being undertaken with the Department of Education to utilise some of the Opportunity Area funding.  It was explained that any support obtained through funding would be most welcomed by young people to ensure that a full investigation could be conducted.  It was commented that there could be potential for the Opportunity Board to make a case. It was felt that the profile of this issue could be raised and to review standards and expectations.

It was stated that Curriculum for Life had remained within the top five priorities during the last seven years.  Young people had confirmed that they felt that they had a voice but stressed that they wanted to make sure that this applied to everyone else.

It was supported that the Youth Council should be brought back to a future overview and scrutiny meeting to be held in the evening.  It was also suggested that representatives from the ladder group to be invited to the same meeting. 

RESOLVED that: -

i.          The Panel note the information presented for both Curriculum for Life and the Local Offer Review.

ii.          Requested that the following three areas be considered at a future meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel along with representatives from the Youth Council.

a)         Update on Curriculum for Life (including outcome of Personal, Social, And Health Education (PHSE) audit)

b)         Feedback on Youth Surgeries

c)         Expect Youth – Response/Monitoring exercise align/where are they locating activity/where can young people go?