1. © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Youth Engagement July 2013 Current Youth Engagement Programme Youth Council Challenges Value to Target Audience Alternative Practical Models

2. Current BSTC Youth Engagement programme Funding Funding £17,000 annually for Northgate Youth Centre (Youth Connexions) – (11-19 year olds/25 with LD) £17,000 annually for Northgate Youth Centre (Youth Connexions) – (11-19 year olds/25 with LD) Experiential Experiential Work experience opportunities – 3-5 per year (15-18yr olds) Work experience opportunities – 3-5 per year (15-18yr olds) Volunteering opportunities – 2-3 at a time (21- year olds) Volunteering opportunities – 2-3 at a time (21- year olds) Youth Community Engagement Youth Community Engagement Summer 2013 programme on Sworders Field – 30 youths undertaking major project Summer 2013 programme on Sworders Field – 30 youths undertaking major project Direct Engagement Direct Engagement Councillor representation on Governing bodies. Councillor representation on Governing bodies. Ad hoc Councillor involvement Ad hoc Councillor involvement Youth Council Youth Council © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council This Council has a strong Youth Engagement programme

3. Current Youth Council Challenges Representation – not a cross section Representation – not a cross section Youth councillors are frequently ‘hand picked’ by the schools, most ‘advantaged’ people Youth councillors are frequently ‘hand picked’ by the schools, most ‘advantaged’ people Typically also members of many other organisations and groups in the town - no shortage of activities to occupy their time. Typically also members of many other organisations and groups in the town - no shortage of activities to occupy their time. 16-18 only, omits younger and older 16-18 only, omits younger and older Dependence on Mayoral Commitment – absent in some recent years Dependence on Mayoral Commitment – absent in some recent years Officer Time and skills Officer Time and skills Self-organisation has reduced time to one man-week per year (which is still >2% of CEO time) Self-organisation has reduced time to one man-week per year (which is still >2% of CEO time) Youth Connexions advise that self organisation should always be the aim Youth Connexions advise that self organisation should always be the aim Officers have no training in Young Person development (compare with Western Hertfordshire model – see later) Officers have no training in Young Person development (compare with Western Hertfordshire model – see later) Youth Councillor Interests Youth Councillor Interests Generally County-level matters – Education, Health, Transport Generally County-level matters – Education, Health, Transport Little interest in cemeteries, allotments, TIC Little interest in cemeteries, allotments, TIC Relevance to Council Relevance to Council Rarely contributes directly to Council business Rarely contributes directly to Council business Not an effective way of seeking input (electronic communication more appropriate to audience) Not an effective way of seeking input (electronic communication more appropriate to audience) Unlike other East Herts Councils, we do not have a strong Ceremonial programme for YC to contribute to Unlike other East Herts Councils, we do not have a strong Ceremonial programme for YC to contribute to Disconnected from Youth Connexions and Herts YC Disconnected from Youth Connexions and Herts YC © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Current model was very good when devised – but its time for review or regeneration

4. Current Youth Council – Value to Target audience? Questionnaire sent to 6 heads Questionnaire sent to 6 heads 3 week reply window, 5-10 mins to complete 3 week reply window, 5-10 mins to complete To the question How valuable is the Youth Council? To the question How valuable is the Youth Council? 1 rated 1.5 out of 4 1 rated 1.5 out of 4 2 rated 2 out of 4 2 rated 2 out of 4 1 rated 2.5 out of 4 1 rated 2.5 out of 4 3 heads did not reply to the questionnaire 3 heads did not reply to the questionnaire All three who replied thought that some kind of involvement with Town Council was important, but also with District and County Councils All three who replied thought that some kind of involvement with Town Council was important, but also with District and County Councils One enquiry from a pupil in 12 months One enquiry from a pupil in 12 months Had attended Herts YC, Noted no-one from East Hertfordshire present Had attended Herts YC, Noted no-one from East Hertfordshire present Volunteered to ‘run a Council’ but … Volunteered to ‘run a Council’ but … No response when invited to suggest times to meet or provide phone number! No response when invited to suggest times to meet or provide phone number! © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Importance to target audience in doubt!

5. Alternative Models for Group Engagement West Hertfordshire model ‘Youth Council’ (Eg St Albans, Harpenden, Redbourn) West Hertfordshire model ‘Youth Council’ (Eg St Albans, Harpenden, Redbourn) Dedicated, trained, youth connexions officer, equivalent to 1 day per week per council Dedicated, trained, youth connexions officer, equivalent to 1 day per week per council Fully linked to Herts Youth Council, 11-19 (25 with Learning Disabilities) Fully linked to Herts Youth Council, 11-19 (25 with Learning Disabilities) Requires 2 (initially) - 12 (if successful) hours per month of Council Officer support Requires 2 (initially) - 12 (if successful) hours per month of Council Officer support “Youth Councils would not exist without Youth Connexions” “Youth Councils would not exist without Youth Connexions” Good model but unsustainable without substantial budget increase Good model but unsustainable without substantial budget increase Youth Conference/Structured Council Youth Conference/Structured Council proposed by Mayor, preferred to current model by 2/3 School Heads proposed by Mayor, preferred to current model by 2/3 School Heads Three meetings per year Three meetings per year Meeting 1 = orientation and explanation of Council roles Meeting 1 = orientation and explanation of Council roles Meeting 2 = Youth Councillors only – identify 2-3 key matters to present to Council Meeting 2 = Youth Councillors only – identify 2-3 key matters to present to Council Meeting 3 – presentation to Council and feedback Meeting 3 – presentation to Council and feedback Sustainable model Sustainable model Youth Community Action Group – proposed by Youth Connexions, untested with School Heads Youth Community Action Group – proposed by Youth Connexions, untested with School Heads Action focussed youth driven group – make a difference to the Town Action focussed youth driven group – make a difference to the Town Dedicated support from and recommended by Youth Connexions Dedicated support from and recommended by Youth Connexions Build on Planned Summer activity Build on Planned Summer activity Council support requirement 3 hours/month, however might ’pay back’ by delivering Council objectives (eg for Sworders Field) Council support requirement 3 hours/month, however might ’pay back’ by delivering Council objectives (eg for Sworders Field) Support load may be a challenge, but pay back may well compensate Support load may be a challenge, but pay back may well compensate Direct School Engagement Direct School Engagement Actively sought by one School (not yet tested with others) Actively sought by one School (not yet tested with others) Direct engagement with politics classes, presentation/talks Direct engagement with politics classes, presentation/talks Pupils to undertake politics related project for Council Pupils to undertake politics related project for Council Good direct engagement model, would need to test viability with other Schools. Effective way to gain direct contact Good direct engagement model, would need to test viability with other Schools. Effective way to gain direct contact Regenerated/redefined Youth Council – evolution of current incorporating elements of above Regenerated/redefined Youth Council – evolution of current incorporating elements of above Defined programme and purpose, Councillor rota. Build link to Herts YC. Reconsider meeting frequency and timing Defined programme and purpose, Councillor rota. Build link to Herts YC. Reconsider meeting frequency and timing © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Practical and effective alternative models to current model exist