Young people urged to give views on their services
Young people in Warwickshire are being asked to help shape a new service for them.
Existing services run by Warwickshire County Council are to be improved by bringing the different strands under a single structure.
To ensure the needs of young people are met, the review is asking them what they would like to see in a new service.
The consultation is being carried out by a number of different organisations who have regular contact with young people. This includes the Council’s Youth and Community Education Service, Positive About Young People, and the Children Area Risk Management teams.
Other groups involved in the review include Connexions, Children’s Fund, Youth Offending Team, Warwickshire Council for Voluntary Youth Service and schools
Consultation is being carried out face to face to encourage young people to give as many details as they can about the kind of service they would like to see.
The sort of activities it is aiming to provide are:
• Outdoor education - such as residentials, adventure activities
• Youth club activities - such as tournaments, sports, trips youth exchanges, summer programmes
• Specialist support - such as bereavement counselling, anti-bullying project, drugs & alcohol counselling, sexual health information, mental health support
• Volunteering & accredited programmes - such as mentoring projects, Duke of Edinburgh’s award, millennium volunteers, challenge scheme
The changes are part of a larger project to bring all children’s services in the county together to ensure children get a better deal.
Assistant County Education Officer Elizabeth Featherstone said: “There are lots of different services for young people and by bringing them together we hope to improve the range of things they are being offered.
“But it isn’t just for us to say what those services should be. We want to provide a single coherent service that meets the needs of young people and the best way to do that is by asking them what support, activities and programmes they want.”
The survey can be taken at the Warwickshire County Council website, with participants being entered into a draw to win an iPod.
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ysreview