Warwickshire News Mine

Those who give their views will be entered in a draw to win an iPod, with the closing date looming on 28 February.

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 and their parents 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, the Children Area Risk Management teams and teenage pregnancy team.

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.

And special workshops are being held for parents to give their views.

They are being held at 5.30pm at the following venues: Campion School and Community College, Leamington on 22 February, Kingsbury School, Kingsbury on 23 February, Stratford-upon-Avon High School on 1 March and Manor Park Community School, Nuneaton on 2 March.

The sort of activities the new service 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 and their parents what support, activities and programmes they want.”

The review can be accessed at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ysreview

Link to WCC