Summer Loving?

If you’re thinking about talking about the summer riots with your youth group when you gather back, why not check out this pdf and powerpoint study guide from America about a girl who was turned in by her parents when they saw her in TV footage of a group attacking a police car. It explores right and wrong and relationships between parents and teens so could be an interesting session.

Child Poverty - Not in our backyard

On Tuesday 18th October the Halesowen Township sub group of the Network are hosting an event to highlight the complexity of child poverty in 2011, to hear about what is likely to happen in the near future and to hear about some of the excellent work that is going on in Dudley. We already have 70 people booked on, so register quickly to avoid disappointment. There are a few market place opportunities available too. For more information or to register click here. There is a National Social Mobility and Child Poverty reveiw currently taking place, if you would like to contribute, you can complete an online survey or download a copy to post.

Funding opportunities

W A Cadbury Charitable Trust:
Next Trustees meeting in October 2011

Size of grant available: £10,000-£20,000 (20 grants awarded every 6 months - only registered charities can apply)

Aims and outcomes of funder: Wide funding remit for projects dealing with communities, vulnerable people, education/training, advice, mediation and counseling, environment/conservation, health/medical and the arts

Additional information: Grants are normally “one off” for core costs or development/project funding. See their Web Site

Carpenters Company Charitable Trust:
October 1st annually

Size of grant available: Standard grant £5,000 per annum up to 3 years

Aims and outcomes of funder: Provide support in three categories – children/youth, homeless people and the aged

Additional information: Only registered charities can apply. If successful grant cheque will be received by the end of December. See their Web Site.

Positive Activities Consultations

Worcestershire County Council has less money than before and so changes need to be made to positive activities for young people. You might know this as the Youth Service. They have sent out the following


"We want to know what you think to make sure the money is used in the best possible way.

We are hoping that you can encourage as many young people, parents, carers and professionals from Worcestershire to complete this so the County Council can make decisions by listening to local people.

Please can promote and support your young people to attend the events at the following venues.



Tuesday 6th Sept
Churchill Community Centre, Loxley Avenue, Redditch, B98 9JL
4.00-6.00 pm

Wednesday 14th Sept
Ourside Youth Centre, Evesham, WR11 1BH
7.00-8.30 pm

Thursday 15th Sept
Rubery Youth Centre, Rubery, B45 9HY
7.00-8.30 pm

Saturday 17th Sept
Lakeview Room, County Hall, WR5 2NP
10.00 am -12.00

Monday 19th Sept
Woodrush Youth Centre, Woodrush, B47 5JN
7.00-8.30 pm

Tuesday 20th Sept
St John's Youth Centre, Worcester, WR2 4EL
7.00-8.30 pm

Thursday 22nd Sept
Café 27, Tenbury, WR15 8AE
4.00–5.30pm

Monday 26th Sept
Stourport Youth Centre, Stourport, DY13 8LA
7.00-8.30 pm

Wednesday 28th Sept
Warndon Community Centre, WR4 9NX
7.00-8.30 pm

Thursday 29th Sept
Riverside Youth Centre, Pershore, WR10 1QU
7.00-8.30 pm

The events will be run by young people from Worcestershire Youth Cabinet and Worcestershire United Kingdom Youth Parliament.

To book a place email Rachel Adams on radams2(at)worcestershire.gov.uk

Events for parents and carers to come and have a say run by Parent's Voice

Thursday 25th August
Perdiswell Young People's Leisure Club, Worcester
7.00-8.00 pm

To book a place email Rachel Adams on radams2(a)worcestershire.gov.uk

Events for professionals including paid staff /volunteers and young people from the voluntary sector to come and have a say run by Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Council for Voluntary Youth Services (WCVYS).

Saturday 17th Sept
Lakeview Room, County Hall, WR5 2NP
10.00 am -12.00

Dudley volunteer awards

If you're working in the Dudley area and know someone who goes above and beyond to help others in a voluntary capacity, why not nominate them for a volunteer award?

Worcestershire County Council urges young people to have their say

Worcestershire County Council is urging children and young people to get involved and have their say on the future of positive activities by 30 September, 2011.

Positive activities (also known as youth services) are defined as those which have a positive impact on health, social and educational wellbeing. These activities have been reviewed as part of the council's overall BOLD programme with the council needing to save an estimated £60-70 million over the next four years.

The council's legal duty, which is securing access to activities for children and young people, is met through the council's 'Plug and Play' website . The council has, however, already listened to local young people and residents' views and is now consulting on a proposal that whilst providing the saving of £1.4 million over 3 years, continues to provide around £1million annual investment in the activities themselves.

Young people, residents and anyone with an interest in these activities now have until September 30, 2011 to provide their views on a proposal which would see the council stop delivering a traditional youth service by 2014. Instead, from April 2012 arrangements could be made with local groups called Local Children's Partnerships (LCPs) which, informed by the views of local young people and residents, would commission services to meet local need.

The council is also asking for views on how funding should be allocated across Worcestershire and whether youth services should be targeted to those young people most in need. Residents can also have their say on whether money should be provided to the Voluntary and Community Sector to enable locally initiated groups to get off the ground, support the commissioning process and to ensure quality and safeguarding requirements are met.

An online questionnaire is available or paper copies of the survey are available in youth centres, libraries and Worcestershire Hubs.

Worcestershire Youth Cabinet is leading the consultation for children and young people and events are being organised for September. Members of the Voluntary and Community Sector are also being invited to book a place at a dedicated event on Saturday 17th September 2011 from 10am until 12 noon at County Hall, Worcester.

Cllr Liz Eyre, Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care and Safeguarding (Lead Member for Children's Services), said: "The County Council has looked at what we can do differently for positive activities (also known as youth services) so that children and young people still have access to the best possible activities with the money available.

"Changing how services are delivered is always more complicated than simply cutting services. I really want as many children and young people, along with anyone else with an interest in positive activities to take up the many opportunities to get involved and provide your views. This is your opportunity to shape the future of positive activities in the County and all ideas will be listened to."

At November's meeting (November 24, 2011), the Cabinet will consider feedback from the consultation, including any implications for assets such as buildings.

More information as well as the opportunity to take part in the online questionnaire can be found on the county website by searching for Positive Activities.