Youth Service Public Meeting on 18 April 2011 at 6.30pm

Public events to discuss future of youth services (Source: WCC News)
A series of public events to consult local people on the future shape of youth services in Warwickshire get underway next week.

The events are part of a wider consultation asking for people’s views and comments. The consultation will run until May 9 and will give local people the chance to have their say on youth centres in their communities.

A new document has been produced to outline the pressure Warwickshire County Council is under to continue to work with young people in a climate of reducing financial resources.

This is available at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/facingthechallenge

The public events will be held around the county for people to have their say on the proposals contained in the document.

These will be held at:

North Warwickshire
Monday April 11 18.30 - 20.30
Baddesley Youth Centre, Boot Hill, Grendon, Atherstone CV8 2EL

Stratford
Tuesday April 12 18.30 - 20.30
Arden Court, Suite 5 Arden Court, Arden Sreet, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6NT

Nuneaton and Bedworth
Thursday April 14 18.30 - 20.30
Hatters Space Community Centre, Upper Abbey Street, Nuneaton, CV11 5DN

Warwick
Monday April 18 18.30 - 20.30
Kenilworth Youth Centre, Abbey End, Abbey Car Park, Kenilworth CV8 1QJ

Rugby
Tuesday April 19 18.30 - 20.30
Ivor Preece Centre, Ivor Preece Field, Rugby Rd, Binley Woods, Coventry CV3 2AY

Cllr Heather Timms, the county council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families, said: “The pace and magnitude of the financial challenge requires large scale reform and this means we will have to make difficult decisions across the whole organisation, including Youth Services.

“However, with change comes a time for review, and our ‘Transformation of Youth Service’ proposals will offer us opportunities to meet the needs of Warwickshire’s young people.

“It is essential that we continue to engage with young people and that they continue to have opportunities to take part in activities and have a voice in our communities. Youth work has a huge impact on the lives of young people, their families and the community as a whole, and this will not be abandoned. Enhanced support for more vulnerable youngsters must also be ensured, so a key part of our work now will focus on Early Intervention, working in targeted areas of greatest disadvantage.

“As part of this we will look at how best to reach these groups and what their needs are. A consultation was launched on Monday, 28 March, to review our premises to provide a focus for both partnership work and for dedicated young people services in the communities of greatest need. This will continue until May 9.

“We have identifed three strands to our commitment to transform youth services:
· continuing to ensure that young people have a voice (such as VOX, UKMYPs, and area and locality forums)
· enabling and developing capacity within the voluntary sector
· developing a flexible youth worker work-force that can meet some of the needs of young people in areas where there is no other provision.”