Workshop 2:

A Vision For Empowerment – Young People’s Participation

David McWilliams: Head of Youth Services Nottingham City Council

Aim: Stimulate discussion and thinking …

• Explore how services will rise to the challenges set out in Aiming High for Young People

• Look at potential empowerment opportunities within Integrated Services to support participation. through; Governance, Volunteering, Decision Making, Inspections, Empowering Young People Pilots, Grant giving, commissioning and Citizenship

Making the links…

The Ten Year Strategy provides the framework forprogressing the 4 key challenges identified within YouthMatters, July 2005.

• Empowering Young People: Things to do and places to go• Young People as Citizens: Making a contribution• Supporting Choices: Information, advice and

guidance (IAG)• All Young People Achieving: Reforming targeted

support

Youth Matters - Next Steps, March 2006.

The ‘vision’ for how the four challenges would be met through a range ofinnovative projects, initiatives and reforms including;

• Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and Youth Capital Fund (YCF)• Volunteering: A new charity “V”• Targeted Youth Support: (Targeted Youth Support – A Guide,

published March 2007)• Connexions Transition • Reforming financial support for 16-19-year olds• Things to do and places to go: a new legislative duty placed upon

local authorities to secure young people’s access to sufficient positive activities and to provide information on the ‘local offer’ to young people

• Positive Activities for Young People: providing diversionary and developmental activities for young people at risk of social exclusion during the school holidays.

Key Extracts from Aiming High for Young People or what the government believes

When young people have the opportunity to influenceservices they are more likely to find them attractive andto access and benefit from them.

More marginalised young people can find formalprocesses unappealing and will need additional support toinfluence provision.

Communities can also play a powerful role in improvingand raising the priority of youth support services in theirarea

“Support young people to take their place as valued members of society”

Establish a number of pilots to explore how young

people can design and organise of events to

celebrate their transition to adulthood

Explore the potential of a ‘Youth Week’, in

celebration of young people’s achievements.

“Increase participation by putting more resources and responsibility in young people’s hands”

Extend the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds until at least 2011,with additional resources for projects in the most disadvantagedcommunities

Encourage Local Authorities to build on the success of the YouthOpportunity and Youth Capital Funds by giving young people greaterinfluence over resources – 25% of spending on youth activities andfacilities by 2018

Invest in supporting young people to set up sustainable projects deliveringpositive activities to other disadvantaged young people

Invest in a National Institute of Youth Leadership to support young people’sability to bring about change more widely.

“Empower more marginalised young people to have influence”

Expect all Local Authorities to adopt good practice

in engaging young people

Invest over the next three years to see more

young people from deprived neighbourhoods

trained and supported to champion the views and

needs of young people.

“Empower communities to improve services for young people”

Expect ward councillors to be responsive to youngpeople’s needs

Expect Local Authorities to ensure that young people,parents and communities know how to mobilise and usethe Community Call for Action to improve youth services

Encourage Local Authorities to bring young people andadults together to address common issues

The challenges are…

• Young people to design and organise events to celebrate their transition to adulthood

• Giving young people greater influence over resources – 25% of spending on youth activities and facilities by 2018

• Supporting young people to set up sustainable projects delivering positive activities to other disadvantaged young people

• Local Authorities to adopt good practice in engaging young people• Young people from deprived neighbourhoods trained and

supported to champion the views and needs of young people. • Ward councillors to be responsive to young people’s needs• Use Community Call for Action to improve youth services• Bring young people and adults together to address common issues

The empowerment opportunities are…

• Young people to design and organise events to celebrate their transition to adulthood

• Giving young people greater influence over resources – 25% of spending on youth activities and facilities by 2018

• Supporting young people to set up sustainable projects delivering positive activities to other disadvantaged young people

• Local Authorities to adopt good practice in engaging young people• Young people from deprived neighbourhoods trained and

supported to champion the views and needs of young people. • Ward councillors to be responsive to young people’s needs• Use Community Call for Action to improve youth services• Bring young people and adults together to address common issues

Nottingham

National Award Winning Youth Bank• £413,051.30 of YOF & YCF distributed• 14 yp (7 white,10 female)• 42 Recorded Outcomes & 28 Accredited Outcomes in first 5

MonthsYouth Council• 56 elected Youth Councillors (BME, LGBT, Looked After)• Over 11,000 yp votedParticipation StrategyEmpowering Young People Pilot V submission at Stage Two (building on MV)Neighbourhood Voice Events