Contact: Liz Hassock Tel: 020 8583 2947 E-Mail: elizabeth.hassock@hounslow.gov.uk Brentford and Isleworth Area Committee Report 31 st March 2005 Report by: Cllr Luke Kirton and Liz Hassock SUMMARY: This report will outline the issues from national and local agenda’s that affect for young people in Hounslow. The report will explore these issues on an area by area basis across the Borough. Area specific responses to these issues will be identified and specific priorities for each area will be highlighted. Recommendations: • To receive the report on the Brentford and Isleworth Area, on issues facing young people in the area. • To assess the issues and priorities relevant to young people in the area. • To identify the services available for young people in the area Background: National Priorities: The agenda for work with young people is currently undergoing a massive overhaul. The Children’s Act 2004 and the 5 priorities in Every Child Matters – Time for Change/Change for Children, are driving a review of services across the Borough, with a specific focus on the outcomes they achieve for children, young people and families. The 5 outcomes are; • Being Healthy • Staying Safe • Enjoying and Achieving • Making a Positive contribution • Achieving Economic Well Being This agenda emphasizes the importance of services being available to children, young people and families within their local communities. Consulting children, young people and families about their priorities for their local area is at the heart of the reforms. There is also an emphasis on prevention and concentrating resources on vulnerable children and young people. In addition there are key performance indicators and outcomes that relate to the participation of children and young people in local decision making and ensuring that there are overall positive outcomes for young people in all aspects of their life both in and out of school.
Local Priorities: Locally over the past year we have seen a number of initiatives that enshrine some of the national agenda’s into the local context; - Young People’s Facilities Scrutiny Panel recommendations are currently being delivered, many of which relate directly to the current national agenda. - Youth Service’s Youth Strategy was adopted by the Executive in November 2004 - A Youth Pledge to Young People/Youth Entitlement Statement is being worked on for this fiscal year. - The Children and Young People’s Participation Strategy is going through a period of consultation and many of you will have been involved or will have contributed to this document. - The Statement of Community Involvement as part of the Local Development Plan (previously the Unitary Plan) is also investigating how young people and children can be part of the process of consultation and true participation in the development of services in their area can be achieved. The pledge to improve the Youth Service budget for 2005/06 and hopefully beyond is another factor that will see the development of work in local areas consolidated against local priorities. Your Area: For the residents of Brentford and Isleworth area, the work of the Youth Service has been developing over the past six months with the inception of the Detached and Outreach Team (DOT – Hotspot Team). Provision: In this area there has been very little generic youth work, as we have discussed previously in this arena there are certain ‘Borough – wide’ initiatives that have always drawn their memberships or worked with young people from the Brentford and Isleworth area, such as; - Connexions -working as Intensive Personal Advisers in every school in the Borough. - Health Improvement Project – working in schools in the area - SENDA/PHAB – drawing its membership from across the Borough - Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme working in all schools in the Borough. - Ivybridge Detached project (Monday and Thursday on the estate) - Alluminae Dance Group – working at Watermans weekly - AWAAZ Drama performances at Waterman’s Since 2004 a number of developments have impacted on Brentford and Isleworth young people; - SAFE – So Safe – Virtual Healthy Living Centre – has impacted on schools and young people ‘virtually’ through the Web Site developments and Soap Opera on-line. - Hounslow Youth Partnership – developing stronger links to the voluntary sector in the area. - DOT – Detached and Outreach Team – working in Syon (Rose Centre) and on the streets and at Haverfield – Mission Hall and on the streets. Access into Clayponds Community building is currently being sought. - Work of PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People) – supporting work on Worton and Worple Estates
Future Priorities: The development of the DOT Team in all Area Committee areas will achieve an aim that has been present since the end of 2002, that of coverage. The development of a dialogue with young people in areas that have previously not been covered by Youth Service provision alongside minimal support of the voluntary sector are both areas crucial for the development of support across the Borough. The issues and priorities young people are raising in the areas we have started to deliver in are primarily around – ‘things to do and places to go’, crime, discrimination, their environment – street scene, pollution and traffic and what they are going to do with their lives. The issues are far from dissimilar from adult agenda’s and the development of further consultation methods with children and young people, a real commitment to ‘Hear By Right’ LGA/NYA standards and complying with the Duty under the Children’s Act 2004 will enable the voice of children and young people to be heard in their areas. Conclusion The financial commitment promised for the coming year, and hopefully beyond, will reflect a commitment to young people, from the Council. The forthcoming Youth Green Paper will guide Local Authorities in prioritizing their work with young people and how provision should be dealt with across the Borough and is a welcome development and recognition of young people’s contribution to communities. This will be translated to the local context over the coming year and is in line with Every Child Matters. This is an opportunity for Local Authorities to further develop and commit resources to the lives of teenage young people. Background Papers: Youth Service’s Youth Strategy (attached) Children and Young People’s Participation Strategy (attached) Children and Young People’s Participation Strategy – Young People’s Version (attached) Youth Service Development Plan (available on the day) Detached and Outreach Report (available on the day) This report has been or is due to be considered by: All Area Committees All Wards
Recommend
More recommend
