The Strategic Director, Place, will present a report, (Document “M”) which provides an update on work undertaken by the Youth Service in the Keighley area in the past 12 months and outlines the direction of travel for the next 12 months.

Recommended –

That the work undertaken by the Youth Service in the Keighley area, as detailed in Document M, be welcomed.

(Neighbourhoods and Community Safety Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618065)

The Strategic Director, Place, presented a report, (Document “M”) which provided an update on work undertaken by the Youth Service in the Keighley area in the past 12 months and outlined the direction of travel for the next 12 months.

Members were reminded that following the budget decision at Council in February 2019 the Youth Service had a budget cut of £513,000 to implement from 1 April 2020.  That cut equated to approximately 25% of the current Youth Service base budget.  Document M revealed ways the service was attempting to mitigate the cuts by generating income and acquiring grant funding.

It was explained that staff reductions would still be required and the deletion from the staffing structure of a Advanced Practitioner and two 16-19 Youth Work posts had been agreed. 

District wide savings were reported in Document “M” and revealed that the reductions had been calculated in proportion with the youth population in each constituency.  The base budget in Keighley would reduce by £23,000 to £67,000 for sessional youth work.  Work was being conducted with partners to prevent the loss of sessional youth work and more information would be presented to the meeting scheduled for February 2020.  That report would provide an indication of sessions which could not be funded in the future.

A PowerPoint presentation was provided which highlighted a number of initiatives undertaken throughout the Keighley constituency and Youth workers and young people participating in activities attended the meeting to explain the positive contribution the service had made to their lives.

Members of the BCA group, which had commenced two years ago for girls from a South Asian background, explained that the group had allowed them to get together with other young girls.  The group had developed to have 30/35 members from various backgrounds.  The group had allowed them to become involved in their communities; to go to events across the district and to make links with different communities.  Members were advised of the positive contribution the initiative had made to the girls and that the group was continuing to expand.

Participants in the Community Action Group which met on a Tuesday evening reported how it had allowed them to befriend people from different communities; to build bridges and undertaken new experiences to help others.  The group had also allowed members to develop skills and gain accreditation they could use in the future.  A community clean up they had attended was discussed together with visits to Bradford City and Liverpool Football Clubs.

Members of the Young Ambassadors group reported a residential visit they had made to London and that they had visited the Palace of Westminster and the House of Commons.  A summit on immigration; crime and policing, which they were organising on 1 November 2019, was reported and all Members were invited to attend.  It was stressed that the group provided a voice for all young people in Keighley and had links with a group in America.

Details of the first Keighley Pride were reported.  Members of the LGBT+ group Sound explained how that group had allowed them to be honest about their sexuality.  They discussed incidents of homophobia still taking place and that the group had provided them with a safe place to be themselves for which they were grateful.   Their contribution to the Keighley Pride was reported.

A Member suggested a project he was considering and the potential to present that to the summit on 1 November 2019.  As the programme had already been finalised it was requested that he present those proposals to the Youth Ambassador meetings which were held between 1700 – 19 hours on Mondays in the Brigg Room, Keighley Town Hall.  It was agreed to discuss that issue further after the meeting and all Members requested they be provided with details of future Youth Ambassador meetings.  

The Keighley Pride event was commended by Members and the young people were thanked for all their hard work to make the event a success.

Members thanked the youth workers and participants for all their work in the area and assurances were provided that they would endeavour to retain services for young people.

Resolved –

That the work undertaken by the Youth Services in the Keighley area, as detailed in Document “M” be welcomed.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Neighbourhoods and Community Safety

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place