Agenda item

This report provides the Committee with a briefing and progress report on the delivery of the revised Youth Service, Youth Innovation Grants and European Social Fund.

(a)        Councilor Sarah Merry (Cabinet Member for Education and Skills) will be in attendance and may wish to make a statement;

(b)        Nick Batchelar (Director of Education and Lifelong Learning) and Simon Morris (Achievement Leader - Engagement and Progression) will present the reports and be available to answer questions Members may have;

            (c)        Questions from Committee Members.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Sarah Merry (Cabinet Member for Education and Skills), Simon Morris (Achievement Leader - Engagement and Progression) and Angela Kent (Head of Achievement and Inclusion) to the meeting.

Members were provided with a presentation on Cardiff’s Youth Offer.

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members:

• Members asked for an update on the Trelai service, officers advised that they have the building which belongs to Education and that services are run from there but there is no full time worker there.

• Members discussed post 16 non-school/work based learning and noted that Cardiff and Vale college have developed a post 16 apprenticeship programme. 

Members asked whether post 16 education was an umbrella term for vocational training.  The Cabinet Member stated that it wasn’t prescriptive, there were a variety of options such as work based, volunteering and not always employment based; prior to April last year there was a benefit to people to have a young person at home that was not in work; this is no longer the case so there is a drive to get young people into education or work; routes into education/work based learning/volunteering are now being driven to develop skills.

• Members were grateful for the overview, and being aware of the reduced offer since the budget cuts considered that this was a positive position in light of the funding challenges.

• It was noted that collaborative working had been referred to, members asked if the youth offending teams were included in this.  The Cabinet Member stated that they were on a number of levels and in a variety of ways.

• Members noted the figures for pre16 in the report were reported as being 592 and in Red category; and asked if there was a split in the City or whether this was across the City as a whole.  The Cabinet Member stated that there were particular areas with higher vulnerability than others, this was recognised by the resources put into the schools.  Members asked if there was also a split in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.  The Cabinet Member stated that pupils taking part in this scheme were primarily in the North of the City, middle class pupils; it was important to encourage all schools to be involved and put resources into these schools at the beginning of the programme cycle.  Connectivity with Members was also important on a neighbourhood basis; the Cabinet Member said she would make an effort to develop this as a piece of work.

• Members considered that buildings were not being used to their full capacity and could be offered out to leisure/music activities.  The Cabinet Member stated that 6 buildings are used for other activities although not fully used; there was scope for delivering youth services etc. from schools to utilise the building stock and provide an income.  Members considered that any cost should be measured so as not to make it unaffordable.

• Members referred to the European Social Fund and asked if there was scope for additional funding.  The Cabinet Member stated that the European Social Fund was broken down into 2 delivery elements, it was not a huge fund, but it brings in match funding of around £700k over 3 years; elements of it are for mental health, Cardiff youth Council prioritises mental health as the top priority.

• Members considered it would be useful to  have presentations in advance of the meetings.

• Members asked about Youth Innovation Grants, its current budget and how long it can be sustained.  Members were advised that there is a ring-fenced budget of £260k for each year of a 2 year period, committed to last year and this year.  The Cabinet Member stated that they will have to look at ways of sustaining beyond the 2 years

• Members referred to VAP and the gap between supply and demand and asked if it realistically gets that many people into education and employment.  The Cabinet Member stated that yes there was a gap, this was identified and it was important to look at the individuals, what service can be brought in to intervene with the young person and what other organisations can do to help; schools identify was level of interventions is needed.

The Chairperson thanked the Cabinet Member and officers for attending the meeting, giving their presentations and statements and for answering Members questions.

AGREED – That the Chairperson writes on the Committee’s behalf to the Cabinet Member to convey their comments and observations.