Views sought about the future provision of youth activities in Shropshire

A six-week consultation has begun on the future provision of youth activities in Shropshire.

From 17 July 2015 Shropshire Council will no longer directly deliver youth services, but will instead allocate money to the county’s Local Joint Committees (LJCs). They will make use of local experience and knowledge to make recommendations on the provision of youth services in their areas that meet local needs.

Over the past few months LJCs have been talking to young people and local communities to get a better understanding of what activities people would like to see delivered in their areas.

The next stage of the process is to hold a final round of consultation on the future provision of youth activities in the areas where activities are currently delivered by Shropshire Council, namely: Bishop’s Castle; Bridgnorth, Worfield, Claverley, Alveley and Brown Clee; Broseley; Craven Arms; Ludlow and Clee; Market Drayton; Oswestry; Shrewsbury, and Whitchurch.

The ideas and suggestions put forward in these areas by the local LJCs will now form the basis of this consultation.

The proposals (or ‘commissioning intentions’) for each area can be found on the Shropshire Council website by clicking here, where an online survey can also be completed.

Meetings will also be held with young people in Shropshire Council youth centres.

The consultation runs from 11 May to 22 June 2015.

The results of the consultation will help to decide the youth activities that will be commissioned in each area, with activities planned to start in September, after the school summer holidays.

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services – transformation and safeguarding, said:

“We’re really pleased with the way engagement has been undertaken to date and has seen a wide range of opportunities being discussed in local communities.

“This consultation allows people, particularly young people, to have their say before any new youth activity providers are confirmed, and I encourage everyone with an interest in the future provision of youth activities to take part.

“Our aim is to ensure that as many young people as possible can continue to access a wide range of activities after school, at weekends and in school holidays, to support their well-being, development of personal and social education and preparation for adulthood.

“Each of the LJCs that have been allocated funding have outlined their intentions on how they will commission youth services, and now we need your views.”

Only the areas where Shropshire Council currently delivers youth activities are included in this consultation. However, LJCs in other parts of Shropshire will also be commissioning youth activities in their areas.

Meanwhile, Shropshire Council has confirmed that it will continue to manage four youth groups in Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Bridgnorth for young people with disabilities or additional needs. The local support group for young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT Group) will also continue to run.

Further information

• Money is being allocated to Local Joint Committees (LJCs) based on a range of considerations including number of 10 -19 year olds in deprived areas, obesity and rurality.
• A partnership of Shropshire Youth Association (SYA) and Energize Shropshire Telford & Wrekin (Energize STW) has been chosen by Shropshire Council to offer support and training to voluntary sector organisations delivering youth activities in Shropshire from 13 August 2015.
• Shropshire Council’s ambition is for LJCs to become local governance structures that enable local councillors, town and parish councils, communities and partners to shape and influence how public money is spent locally.