Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member for Education introduced an updated Flintshire Youth Service Strategy in order to develop and enhance the service delivered to young people in Flintshire.

The Youth Service Strategy document was focused on the provision of high quality, responsive and accessible services as a universal entitlement with a particular emphasis on the assets.  A high quality Youth Service would contribute to improving the quality of life and well-being of Flintshire’s young people.

The Director of Lifelong Learning said the future service development needed to be part of a coherent plan, setting out the core values and principles of Youth Work and providing a framework for its direction.  The plan would be based on a clear analysis of current needs and wants identified through a review process and engagement with young people shaping service provision across the county and in locations.  Particular emphasis would be a review of buildings currently maintained by the Youth Service, many of which were no longer fit for purpose for a modern Youth Service.

Key recommendations for service provision included operating an expanded front line sessional youth work programme.  One example was expansion to 2-3 weekly Duke of Edinburgh Open Award Centres, to build on the increase in demand and take up over recent years.  Full details of the expanded programme were detailed in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the report be approved and the document be approved as a strategy for the improvement and development of the Youth Service for young people in Flintshire including the vision, strategic priorities, efficient provision and to support further consultation with scrutiny and the relevant service stakeholder groups.