Positive Contribution Theme Group

Time: 9.30
Date: 16th July 09
Venue: Jet Centre - Hattersley

Present:

Claire Bibby - Chair
Julie Lord (Theme Coordinator)- Area Coordinator Dukinfield, Stalybridge, Mossley
Tina Lavender– Action for Children ( NCH ) Participation Project
Pauline Daniels – Children’s Centres/Extended Schools
Lisa Hoyland – TMBC
Chris Thean – TMBC Community Regeneration
Liz Hughes – TMBC
Gary Buxton – Young Advisors
Justin Wiggin – TMBC
Jonathan Knowles – Greater Manchester Fire Service
Catherine Mee – NHS Tameside & Glossop
Maurice Smith - TMBC

Note taker: Lindsay Patchett

Item 1: Welcome

Claire welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made around the table

Item 2: Apologies

Received from:
Emma Varnum

Item 3: Minutes from the last meeting and matters arising

Minutes accepted as a true record.

Matters arising

• Youth Online Survey
  Martin Higgins has been working with young people at St Damians to give them feedback from the survey.
  Julie Lord has also been working with the young people on designing screen savers which show the four key messages that were gained from the Youth Online Survey. The screen savers are to be on computers in the boroughs high schools.

Action: Julie to check whether the screen savers will be on the corporate website.

Youth Online report for LDD young people – results to be used with caution.

Maurice commented that an area of concern is the answers to the questions regarding Tameside Council and children’s perception of the council and who are the council. Perhaps this is an issue for citizenship teachers.

• Item 6: Working with Dale Grove to adapt School Council training to suit their students – should read… Working with Oakdale to adapt School Council training to suit their students Amendment to last minutes
• Item 7: Review of Outcome Theme Groups – further discussions taking place
• Item 10: Lisa asked for feedback from anyone noticing impact as a result of the recession. Would be grateful for any available data. – Lisa renewed her request for this information.

Item 4: Young Advisors – Gary Buxton

• Gary Buxton gave an overview of the Young Advisors scheme
  • The young people undertake a 30 hour induction programme
  • The Young Advisors work alongside central government
  • Youth lead organisation – the trustees are under the age of 18
  • Young people meet on a regular basis with cabinet ministers
  • Look at the priorities in their area
  • Share “Best Practice” throughout the country
  • Young Advisors always help to deliver the training to other Young Advisors
  • Aspirations of the Young Advisors grows as they work with a variety of professions
• Gary invited questions from the meeting

Q: Young people who become advisors – how do they relate back/what guidance do they have?

A: that it Young Advisors is not a representing organisation – there is a diverse makeup of participation representatives – Young Advisors are often used in research – the Young Advisors will engage with their peers.

Q: Is there a reason why the age cap is 15?

A: because of the barriers to employment and the restrictions in the number of hours young people can work.
There is community based training for younger people, but not for the paid roles. The youngest con the community training has been age 7.

Q: is there training for disabled young people?

A: Accessibility for disabled young people on all of the training.

Q: How many Young Advisors in each group?

A: Average 7, but some have as many as 25

Q: Are there work experience opportunities?

A: No, but can get involved in local initiatives

Q: Future Jobs Fund?

A: Looking at this in one area – looking to pilot it.

Q: Is there an impact on NEET young people – do working as a Young Advisor affect their benefits?

A: Does not affect EMA but can affect benefits, in some cases this is averaged out.

Q: Is there any data showing numbers of young people gaining employment after being a young advisor.

A: No but have an evaluation form so could be collated.

Item 5: CYPSP – Reporting in September

Julie has pulled together the things we want to report on.

• A standard format – looked at the report cards and summarised them
• Summary of action from the report cards
• Feedback from report
• Email comments to Julie by Monday 20th July.
  

Item 6: Future Plans for Participation - Justin

Justin gave details of the future plans for participation:

• Julie has taken forward the Participation Strategy
• Local and national initiatives
• Action plan – what has already happened? - analysing any gaps
• Plan for the next three years
• Hear By Rights – looks at how inclusive we are
• All children and young people should be involved in decision making
• Community and engagement strategy
• Empowering Tameside
• An opportunity to make sure all consultation is transparent
• Consultation Diary – how can we make this a live document
  • Raise awareness?
  • Can partner organisation publicise
  • Update with report card information
  • Look at how we can feed information through partnerships – organisations to take ownership
  • Mechanism of feedback – still looking at this.

Children & Young Peoples Plan

• Being worked on over the next few months
• Action plan being looked at
• No of broad questions to look at how we are to engage young people in making decisions
• All findings by December

Children & Young People in local democracy

• Youth options paper – voices of young people heard in Tameside MBC
• Looking a good representative of young people on a youth panel
• Need to look at Tameside as a whole – large number of young people
• How do people in community engage children and young people in decision making
• Give feedback on one youth forum or 4 areas, District Assemblies or shadow council?

Claire suggested a working group be formed – contact Justin if interested.

Members of the meeting were concerned that younger children needed to have a voice.

Item 7: Participation Network Update – Tina

• Strategy – how to move forward – draft in place
• Going to co-chair the meeting with Justin today and as from next meeting Justin will be the chair.
• Their by Rights – scrutiny role
• School council – are delivering at Longdendale, Copley and Oakdale
• Participation Tender interviews tomorrow
  

Item 8: Any Other Business

• Meeting dates – dates to be informed – there is to be one meeting between September and December
• Maurice – Ofsted framework has changed – new set of guidelines from September – Key question - to what extent do young people contribute to the school and the wider community.
• This is Julie’s last meeting – Claire thanked Julie for her tireless work – a presentation of a card and bouquet of flowers was made.