Speakers:

Connexions (Jan Fenning)

VAWK (Voluntary Services Unit) (Mandy Wynne)

The Head of Community Development provided an overview of the issue and updated the Committee on a number of young people’s projects supported by the Council.  This included the Power Project, aimed at young people on the edge of criminal or anti-social activity.  The 8-12 Project, set up originally as part of the Council’s Single Regeneration Budget work in Swanley had since expanded to other parts of the District and, going forward, would be funded from a successful funding bid worth £180,000 and would be managed in the voluntary sector.  The Committee also heard that the Council worked with the Kenward Trust to provide a Drugs Worker who worked with vulnerable young people.  In partnership with Voluntary Action Within Kent the Council also supported a Summer Programme for children and families across the District.

In addition to supporting a number of projects, the Council also undertook consultation with young people.

The Head of Community Development also provided the Committee with details of the grants that were provided to organisations working with young people (attached at Appendix A).

Connexions (now CXK)

Representatives from Connexions (now CXK), Jan Fenning (Area Manager for Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks) and Julia Ward (Team Leader for Dartford and Sevenoaks) attended the meeting and provided the Committee with an overview of the work undertaken by CXK. 

CXK used a number of strategies to engage young people with the job market and the service was currently universally provided.  From September 2012 schools would be under a duty to secure access to independent, impartial career guidance for their pupils in years 9-11 and it was likely that the duty would be extended to 16-18 year olds in schools and further education.  In order to be independent, careers guidance should be presented in an impartial manner, include information on the options available in respect of 16-18 education and training, including apprenticeships and be provided by a person not employed by the school.

One of the main aims of CXK was to move people from NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) to EET (in Employment, Education and Training).  The biggest barriers to encouraging young people to take up education, employment or training was a lack of provision and issues with transportation.  Within the Sevenoaks District, Swanley had the highest figures for young people classified as NEET.  CXK had been working with providers to develop bespoke provision that would be attractive to young people.

In response to a question, the Committee were told that the Government’s plans to cap benefit levels would have very little impact on levels of employment however, it was likely that crime figures would rise as a result. 

A Member expressed concern that schools would not be able to provide some young people with the support and guidance that they required.  In response Ms Ward clarified that out-reach programmes provided by CXK would continue but additional funding for these programme would have to be secured in the future.  If schools wished to buy in a service from CXK work could be undertaken with schools to develop good careers information and advice programmes.

Another Member queried whether CXK had undertaken any partnership work with organisations who supported vulnerable young people within the criminal justice system. Ms Fenning reported that as part of her role she worked with the Youth Offending Service and work was on-going to secure funding for prevention work.  Information on this work could be provided to the Committee following the meeting.

ACTION 1: That the CXK Area Manager for Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks provide information on prevention work that was being undertaken with vulnerable young people within the criminal justice system.

Voluntary Action Within Kent (VAWK)

Mandy Wynne and Jon Weller from Voluntary Action Within Kent (VAWK) attended the meeting and provided the Committee with an overview of the work of the organisation in relation to the services provided to young people.

Services provided to young people included:

-          Apprenticeship schemes,

-          Internship placements,

-          Mentoring for young people,

-          Work experience placements

-          residential trips,

-          support to young carers and befriending service

-          work with children with disabilities

One of the main aims of VAWK was to ensure that there were opportunities available for every young person.

A Member queried how young volunteers were recruited and how links were maintained.  Ms Wynne reported that most young people started volunteering through their schools and due to the diverse range of projects that were available a significant number of young people continued to volunteer once they had left school.  Social media also had a big impact on the ability of VAWK to maintain links with volunteers.

The Chairman noted that some young people were not aware of the diversity of business across the District and questioned whether there was an opportunity to hold business fairs in order to assist young people and local businesses to identify the opportunities and skills that were available.  

The Committee stressed the importance of ensuring that businesses taking on apprenticeship placements or work experience placements  worked to provide development opportunities for the young people involved.

A Member questioned how VAWK worked with schools based in more deprived areas.  Ms Wynne acknowledged that there were more challenges but stressed that it was possible to engage with a variety of young people through the diverse range of programmes run by VAWK.

The Chairman thanked the speakers for attending the meeting and outlining the various programmes that were being run across the District.  The Committee suggested that it may be helpful to receive a further update in a year.