Issue - meetings

To agree initiatives for the youth fund delivery.

This item had not been circulated five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept the item for reasons of urgency as year 11 students (age 16 year olds) would be starting study leave around Easter time. These young people would be the primary target group for the project from September 2011. Failure to engage with them through their schools could mean that they will not be fully briefed as to the potential benefits available through this scheme. This could have a negative impact on recruitment for the council’s schools and colleges for post 16 courses.

To meet the required outcomes of the Youth Fund initiative the scheme would also need to be fully embedded into established governance and administrative arrangements before September 2011. 

A decision on the work streams and their applications were required at this time in order to enable appropriate lead-in time for the engagement of supportive resources and council’s partner’s contributions, effective communications with the target groups and establishment of the detailed administrative systems to support effective delivery.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Youth Fund is delivered through the following three initiatives to be allocated as follows in 2011/12, the distribution to be reviewed annually as part of the annual policy and resourcing strategy:

·  Financial assistance fund for young people aged 16-18 in learning. An allocation of £600,000 per year for the next three years to be used to provide resources such as books, equipment and travel costs for those young Southwark residents aged 16-18, in full-time education, who would have previously benefited from the Education Maintenance Allowance.

·  Employment support for young people aged 16-19 leaving education.  An allocation of £350,000 per year for three years to provide young people in Southwark with employment support to assist the transition between secondary education and work, assist access into employment and enhance vocational learning.

·  Financial support with university and future employment.  An allocation of up to £50,000 per year for the next three years to support young people age 18 years and over who have gained a University place but may find this difficult due to financial restraints.  This will include offering paid internships in university holidays and some course require placements.