Applications invited to provide youth activities

Shropshire Council wants to hear from local organisations or individuals interested in providing youth activities for 10- to 19-year-olds (up to 24-year-olds for individuals with learning difficulties) in the Bishop’s Castle, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Whitchurch areas.

From Friday 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.

Now, applications are sought to provide youth activities within a limited number of areas.

Invitations to bid have today (Monday 13 July 2015) been published on the Shropshire Council website at http://shropshire.gov.uk/doing-business-with-shropshire-council/, and circulated to the voluntary and community sector.

In the Bishop’s Castle area, applications are being sought to:

• Provide a youth club one evening a week in Bishop’s Castle, in school term time aimed at 10- to 16-year-olds.

In the Bridgnorth area, applications are being sought to:

• Provide two youth sessions per week within Bridgnorth in term time for young people aged 10-12 years and 13-15 years.
• Provide targeted outreach work at events and on other specific days/areas as and when required.

In the Ludlow area, applications are being sought to:

• Provide two youth sessions per week within Ludlow in term time for young people aged 10-13 years and 14-18 years.

In the Market Drayton area, applications are being sought to:

• Provide a minimum of two evening youth club sessions per week within Market Drayton in term time targeted at those young people of highest need.

In the Oswestry area, applications are being sought to:

• Provide and support “Open Access” to young people within a ‘youth café’ setting at The Centre, Oswestry on Mondays to Fridays between 4pm and 9pm, and Saturdays 10am to 3pm.
• Contribute to other youth activities, particularly those within the centre and related outreach work.

In the Whitchurch area, applications are being sought to:

• Provide three youth sessions per week within Whitchurch in term time, including junior and senior sessions.

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services, said:

“We anticipate that by commissioning youth activities the capacity of the community and voluntary sector (CVS) will increase. This is really positive for these areas and CVS providers as this is funding that has not previously been available in these areas.

“I would encourage any groups interested in proving youth activities in the Bishop’s Castle, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Market Drayton and Whitchurch areas to apply.

“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.”

For more information on the opportunities to deliver youth activities visit the Shropshire Council website, at http://shropshire.gov.uk/doing-business-with-shropshire-council/.

Further information

The areas referred to above are covered by the following Local Joint Committees (LJCs).

• Bishop’s Castle
  • South West Shropshire LJC
• Bridgnorth
  • Bridgnorth, Worfield, Claverley, Alveley and Brown Clee LJC
• Ludlow
  • Ludlow and Clee area LJC
• Market Drayton
  • Market Drayton and rural area LJC 
• Oswestry
  • Oswestry LJC
• Whitchurch
  • Whitchurch and surrounding area LJC