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.