Agenda item - York Youth Community Action Pilot

The purpose of this report is to update the Executive Member on the Youth Community Action Pilot and seek approval for funding for projects recommended by the Youth Community Action Pilot Grant Fund Assessment Panel.

RESOLVED:(i) That the process underway for local implementation of

the Youth Community Action Grant Fund be noted.

(ii)That funding for the list of projects recommended by the York Youth Community Action Grant Funds Project Board (Annex C of the report) be approved.

(iii)That thanks be recorded to the members of the panel and to officers for their work.

REASONS: (i) The assessment process has been rigorous and

effective.

(ii)The projects offer a great opportunity for City of York Council to work with the voluntary groups of York and provide the city’s 14-16 year olds with a range of opportunities that would have otherwise been unavailable to them.

The Executive Member received a report that:

· Provided background information on the York Youth Community Action Pilot;

· Detailed the results of Round One of the York Youth Community Action Pilot Grant Fund bidding; and

· Asked the Executive Member to approve the funding to projects recommended by the Youth Community Action Pilot Grant Fund Assessment Panel or to ask officers to review their recommendations and or selection criteria.

The Executive Member was pleased to note that the city had been selected as one of five national pilots to develop volunteering amongst 14-16 year olds and had been awarded a total of £1.38 million for the project. Half of the funding was to be distributed directly to a wide range of organisations and individuals to fund the delivery of volunteering opportunities in the community.

Details were given of the bidding process, as outlined in the report. There had been a short timescale for submitting applications in Round One to enable time for projects to commence prior to the summer holidays. A panel had been convened to consider the 32 bids that had been received and had made recommendations on the allocation of the funds. Officers gave details of the composition of the panel and the voting arrangements.

The Executive Member gave consideration to the recommendations of the panel. The panel had recommended that bids totalling £276,257 be allocated in this round. The intention was that this would create 3,316 volunteering opportunities. It was noted that two of the recommendations related to council projects and that the others were from the third sector.

Officers were asked if all of the recommended successful bids had submitted accounts and appropriate costings. Officers confirmed this to be the case. Three high quality bids had not submitted satisfactory accounts and it was recommended that these be deferred to the next round enabling opportunity for the appropriate information to be provided.

The Executive Member sought confirmation that the recommendations were for revenue and not capital projects. Officers stated that this was the case but that the terms of the funding did allow capital expenditure of up to £7,000 to enable for the purchase of equipment. The majority of costs related to staffing or transport.

Officers were asked how the bids would be monitored. The Executive Member was informed that the processes that were in place for monitoring grants to the third sector would apply, including quarterly monitoring reports.

At the request of the Executive Member, officers gave details of how the bidders would be notified of the outcome. Assurances were given that unsuccessful bidders would be given feedback on how their bid could be improved and submitted in later rounds if appropriate.

The Executive Member sought assurances that projects would engage with young people from hard to reach groups. Officers confirmed that some of the bids had made specific reference as to how they would engage with hard to reach groups and that other bids were from organisations who had a proven track record in this area.

Officers were asked for further details regarding the recommendations in respect of activities relating to the environment. It was noted that three high quality bids had been received for funding to provide volunteering opportunities relating to the environment. There had, however, been some overlap in the schemes. It was therefore recommended that £30,000 be allocated to each group with the proviso that they work together regarding the activities that were to be offered.

The Executive Member sought clarification regarding the bid from York Youth Council. Officers explained that the Youth Council had submitted two bids. One of the bids had been for funding for the café and was not recommended for approval, as this was a capital project. The second bid related to funding for the running of the Youth Council. The panel noted that the Youth Council had a significant role in engaging young people in the project but recommended that the project be transferred for support from another strand of the CAP budget.

The Executive Member stated that she was delighted at the number of bids that had been received and was pleased that bids that had been unsuccessful in this round would be advised as to how they could improve their bid and re-submit for a later round.

RESOLVED:(i) That the process underway for local implementation of

the Youth Community Action Grant Fund be noted.

(ii)That funding for the list of projects recommended by the York Youth Community Action Grant Funds Project Board (attached as an annex to these minutes) be approved.

(iii)That thanks be recorded to the members of the panel and to officers for the work that they had carried out.

REASONS: (i) The assessment process has been rigorous and

effective.

(ii)The projects offer a great opportunity for City of York Council to work with the voluntary groups of York and provide the city’s 14-16 year olds with a range of opportunities that would have otherwise been unavailable to them.