Agenda item

To consider options for effectively involving young people in the Social Inclusion Working Group.

Members considered a report which explored options for effectively involving young people in the Social Inclusion Working Group.

Officers reported feedback from the sub group’s discussion at the earlier informal meeting:

Group 1

·       That there was no correct solution but the appointment of young people representatives through a Social Inclusion Youth Forum or from the Youth Council to attend SIWG meetings would be a suitable option.

Group 2

·       Options B and D were of the greatest interest to this Group

·       Other points raised included that it would not be possible for young people under 18 years to have voting rights on the Group if Council agreed voting rights for co-opted members in the future

·       How to use the role of the Young People’s Champion which had not be included in the report.

In answer to questions regarding the use of a web based forum for young people Officers confirmed that this had been examined by the Young Peoples Working Group. It had been found that there were problems with resources and concerns had been raised regarding inappropriate activity on the site.

Certain Members raised concerns regarding accountability as the recommendation proposed that Officers from the Youth Service would interpret information received from young people. It was questioned whether the Group wanted the views of young people fed into the Group or the appointment of 2 representatives.

Members expressed the view that it was important to have young people representation on the Group and that this should be done quickly. It was also felt important to hear the views of young people who had had direct involvement in topics that would be discussed at future meetings together with input from other Forums that linked up with young people.

Consideration was also given to the need for wider engagement with young peoples groups and the possibility of using the Groups budget to assist with this.

The options considered were

A             Officers from the Youth Service to attend the meetings to advocate on behalf of young people. Their role would only be to articulate the views of young people as have already been expressed through consultation and involvement activity, as recorded on the consultation database.

B         Include issues that are important to young people are placed on the forward plan and with the advice and support of the Youth Service relevant young people are invited to attend those particular meetings.

C         Hold a once-yearly social inclusion event for young people – a Social Inclusion Youth Forum. This could ascertain the views of young people on a number of social inclusion and equality issues and may lead to the identification of two younger people interested in attending the SIWG on a regular basis. Representation on this would be drawn from within the BME forum and Disabled People’s Forum as well as other appropriate groups across the City.

D         The relevant Community Forums involved in the SIWG work to better involve young people in their activities and by so doing identify a young person who would be interested in representing the views of young people from that community at the SIWG. These young people’s representatives would be offered an extra place on the SIWG.

E         A combination of options A-D above.

RESOLVED:      i)   That subject to Option A being reworded to state that the Children and Young Persons Champion will attend meetings to advocate on behalf of young people rather than “Officers from the Youth Service” Option E be supported for addressing the involvement of young people in the SIWG.

REASON:                 Option E provides for the most effective and comprehensive    involvement of young people given the current overall approach to young people’s involvement in the city.

              ii) That the Youth Council be consulted on the best method of appointing two young people for to represent them on the Group.

             iii) That the SIWG review the above option at the end of a six month period.

             iv) That the next meeting give consideration to ways of using the Groups budget to engage young people and in assisting them to feed their views into the work of the Group.

REASON:              To develop a more comprehensive and inclusive means of    involving young people in issues of social inclusion and equality.