Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to update the Local Committee on the progress we have made towards participation for all young people in Reigate and Banstead in post-16 education, training and employment during 2012-13.

(Report and Annexes 1 and 2 attached)

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Jeremy Crouch, Contracts Performance Officer, Services for Young People and Mike Abbott, Chief Executive, Surrey Youth Focus (reporting to Members on the contract to deliver the Youth Small Grants Scheme on behalf of Services for Young People)

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

Member Discussion – key points:

·         Clarification was sought regarding some of the figures in Annex 1 under Key Achievements for the Year. The officer explained that the first bullet point referred to Services for Young People as a whole (including the Youth Support Service), and the second bullet point referred specifically to the Local Prevention Framework. It was also emphasised that these figures are not static as young people are constantly moving in and out of the NEET cohort.

·         Members requested further information on the work taking place with young people who are difficult to engage with. The officer reported that they would receive intensive support and a package would be created around the young person. Some young people required up to two years of intensive work.

·         Concerns were raised regarding the transition to adulthood post-18. The officer explained that services did continue post-18, and that the raising of the compulsory education age to 18 would have an impact on young people in that age category.

·         Discussion took place regarding the provision of services in Redhill. It was noted that the Redhill Youth Consortium currently provided a voluntary-sector funded youth club in Redhill, and that Reigate and Redhill YMCA would be working intensively in Redhill under the Local Prevention Framework. Services for Young People would explore options for providing a statutory service, but budgetary constraints may be an issue. The officer agreed that Redhill was an area of need, and this had been reflected in the local specification for the Local Prevention Framework. Members representing Redhill requested that future funding be secured.

·         Concerns were raised regarding the status of Merstham’s youth centre, the Oakley, which had not received a Level 1 grading. The officer responded that the Oakley had been declared unfit for purpose, and youth work was currently taking place at St Nicholas School and in the community. This, together with the recent arrival of the lead youth worker for Merstham, had meant that the assessment had been postponed until September. It was also noted that the number of youth work hours delivered in Merstham had increased since the data in the report had been produced.

·         Concerns were raised that the report did not include data on non-SCC provided services. The officer replied that there was no mechanism for reporting for voluntary-run groups, and that it was not possible to ask them to deliver to the National Youth Agency standard. There was a possibility that Raven Housing Trust could provide information on the Redhill Youth Club and he would follow up on this. The Vice-Chairman added that SCC did contribute to the funding of youth work in Redhill, including the Redhill Youth Club and Youth Cafe via the Community Safety Partnership.

Resolution:

The Committee NOTED the progress Services for Young People has made during 2012/13 to increase participation for young people in Reigate and Banstead, as set out in the report submitted.