Youth Work Strategy
Youth Work consultation
Following the development of the 2021 vision, a public consultation was carried out to obtain the views and opinions of our young people, their parents, carers, and was open to anyone else who wanted to contribute to it.
The eight week consultation included an online questionnaire that was aimed at young people, plus an online questionnaire that was aimed at adults. There were also several Focus Groups held during the consultation to ensure as much participation as possible. In addition, Youth Workers promoted the consultation in schools and at all engagement opportunities with young people and their parents.
What the consultation tells us
Online responses
- 268 survey responses were received in total - 189 young people aged 11 - 24, and 79 adults aged 25+ completed the survey.
- The majority of young people who completed the survey were aged 16 - 18 (84 per cent) and over half were female (55 per cent).
Focus group summaries
- Youth provision provides a safe and confined space that allows SEND young people to socialise away from their parents
- Youth Work provision allows them to develop their independence and practical skills
- Current youth service provision is enjoyed, and young people are made to feel safe and comfortable
- Group visits to a venue are seen more favourably than going to visit a youth worker in a park
- Young people would like to be able to spend more time at provisions in the holidays
- Delivering youth provision on the same day every week is important as it is part of their routine
- Targeted or specialist services are seen as the most needed by the cohort of young people
- Digital communication is wanted and liked most, to include emails, Instagram and WhatsApp
- Having a safe space for young people is important; the needs of SEND young people are the priority for the cohort of parents
- Delivering provision to wider ages is supported, however when provision offer ends at the age of 25, this is difficult for both parents and SEND young people
- The venues available for their young people is highly praised for being safe spaces to socialise as well as having a choice of facilities and activities available
- Parents believe that a pop-up youth zone could work for SEND young people, or a drop-in centre – but did not believe that meeting a youth worker in a park would work
- Having youth provision open more often in the holidays is supported, especially if they can be open for longer during the day
- The ideal means of communication depends on the YP; physical communication may be better for some young people
- However, parents feel that a Facebook group, or Zoom meetings, could work well (note: because of lockdown these focus groups were held online and worked well)
- Better support can be provided to young people if there was increased partnership across all services
- Some provisions are not as available for certain groups, such as those below the threshold for CAMHS or young people in the Traveller community
- Widening youth provision age ranges, can be difficult, as interests often change from age 15
- Traditional ‘brick and mortar’ buildings would be ideal for a youth club setting. It was felt that there should be support for more local venues as it can keep vulnerable young people safer and help with transport
- There is agreement that there is not a best time for youth provision, but more availability, more frequently, is better
- Detached, Outreach and Targeted or Specialist services are seen as the most important as they are the best at reaching those in the most need
- There is also agreement that communication should take place where the young people already are, i.e. on social media, and this should happen more frequently
- Members would like to provide additional services when funding becomes available; they are particularly interested in tackling social isolation
- Widening the age bracket is fully supported, but with the caveat that changing interests will need to be accounted for
- This cohort prefer the notion of a central hub for provisions/clubs to deliver from, although they recognise that there would need to be good transport
- There is agreement that there is a need for events for young people to take place in the holidays, as well as enhanced services for those in need
- Preventative and Targeted services are noted as important, and worth increasing where available
- This group believes that there needs to be a greater focus on children & young people in care and care leavers
- They favour extending support to those aged 25, both SEND young people and care leavers
- Keeping youth work provisions local is the preference, but having a central location would help relieve pressure on local facilities
- A central hub is seen as a good option for delivering youth provision, as long as it is available in each major location
- There is consensus that there should be more provision in the holidays, lasting for longer each day, since this has worked well in the past
- Detached and Outreach services are seen as important as they help to refer young people. Preventative and Targeted services are also viewed as key.
- This group feel that YP on the verge of NEET (not in Education, Employment or Training), could benefit from attending youth services
- Managers support a change to the age range of young people accessing youth services, starting at 11 is favoured
- Having centres in deprived areas can provide help where it is needed most
- A central hub is seen as a good option for youth clubs, but Specialist or Targeted work may need to be more flexible
- There is consensus that there should be different provisions in the holidays, which could be supported by the third sector
- This group agree that support should be focused on where it is needed most, seeing Preventative and Targeted services as most important
- This group feel that those on the verge of NEET, could benefit more from youth services
- Frontline staff support a change to the age when young people can access these services, starting at 11 years
- Although a central hub is seen positively, the venue needs to match the service that is being provided. Universal or Outreach is seen as the best fit
- The availability of added provision in the holiday is seen as a good idea, but should be for those who are most vulnerable; it should not be seen as day-care
- Preventative and Target are seen as key services for young people
Overall consultation summary and conclusions
- Most respondents were in favour of lowering the age requirement to 11+ but differing interest at different ages should be taken into account when scheduling activities.
- Frontline staff and more than half young people agree that services should be reduced in areas of less need and that support for high risk and/or vulnerable young people should be increased.
- Pop-up youth zones or events for targeted services are seen positively, whilst social work staff and managers like the idea of having a central hub in each locality, with considerations for transportation and safety for vulnerable young people.
- SEND young people are less enthusiastic about detached services as settings lack familiarity, but many are willing to try new venues as long as they know others in attendance.
- Communication pathways need to be tailored, particularly with that of SEND young people and their parents.
- Young people expressed a desire to have more opportunity to be involved with council decision-making and to communicate their opinions via social media platforms.
