YOUTH SHAKE-UP

The far reaching plan, which aims to revamp the existing youth service, was approved by the executive board last week.

At the meeting, Cllr Phil Harris told colleagues that the plan is intended to address local issues relating to young people in a wide variety of ways.

He welcomed the arrival in Halton of the Connexions service, which provides an advice and guidance service to all 13-19-year-olds and with which the council will work closely.

The plan has been developed with the Government's Transforming Youth Work' guidance in mind and introduces a structure and clear local targets for the youth service as well as six key objectives to provide social clubs and meeting places for local teenagers.

To provide support, advice, and information for young people.

To ensure there is a range of youth projects with accreditation for young leaders and volunteers.

To facilitate the development of volunteering, voluntary action and voluntary youth organisations.

To facilitate involvement of vulnerable young people in youth service activities.

Improved monitoring and development of the service.

The overall plan also includes the development of a youth strategy, which will be developed with young people as well as providers and partners, the creation of trainee youth worker posts which will create career and training paths for local residents and the continuation of two SRB projects which are linked to the youth service:

Striking Out - a health project that delivers healthy lifestyle programmes including sports and outdoor education.

Young People's Project - delivering an advice, information one to one group work and counselling service to young people.

Cllr Harris said: "I hope that this report will eventually lead to a comprehensive and inclusive youth service across Runcorn and Widnes. The first priority is to get people on the ground and a sense of direction for the service. This will then be followed by a wide range of activity focused on young people and at a local neighbourhood level."