A collection of case studies from the Neighbourhood Support Fund programme (1999-2005) showed that the perceived obstacles to working with young people could be overcome, and that community organizations could effectively integrate their work with young people into wider community development work.
Source: Gavin Bailey and Kate Jones, Our Kids, Our Community, Community Development Foundation (020 7226 5375)
Links: Report | CDF press release
Date: 2006-Dec
The Welsh Assembly Government began consultation on a draft youth service strategy for 2006-07.
Source: Towards a National Youth Service Strategy for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined the key issues in moving the Connexions service towards integrated service delivery under the new children s trust arrangements. It recommended setting up a working group whose remit would be to ensure that Connexions work was not devalued in the process.
Source: ECOTEC, Connexions Moving Towards Children's Trusts, Research Report RW81, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
A report examined how neighbourhood management pathfinders had worked with and influenced services for young people, particularly those aged 11-19. (The pathfinders were designed to test out a new model of neighbourhood management.)
Source: SQW Ltd, Neighbourhood Management and Services for Young People: A theme report from the pathfinder programme national evaluation, Neighbourhood Renewal Unit/Department for Communities and Local Government (020 7944 8383)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
A literature review examined what worked in stimulating creativity in socially excluded young people.
Source: Karen Halsey, Megan Jones and Pippa Lord, What Works in Stimulating Creativity amongst Socially Excluded Young People, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Date: 2006-Oct
A report described government action to encourage the promotion of greater play opportunities for children and young people.
Source: Time for Play: Encouraging greater play opportunities for children and young people, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Sep
Four linked reports examined children s services markets - children s homes and fostering provision; positive activities for young people; childcare; and parental and family support services. The overall findings painted a picture of failure, both in terms of councils meeting the needs of children/young people/parents, and in terms of achieving value for money. Encouraging the development of regional commissioning, and rationalizing central government funding streams, could help improve the development of these markets.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Overarching Report on Children s Services Markets, Research Report RW76, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | PricewaterhouseCoopers, Children s Homes and Fostering, Research Report RW74, Department for Education and Skills | PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Market for Parental & Family Support Services, Research Report RW72, Department for Education and Skills | PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Childcare Market, Research Report RW73, Department for Education and Skills | PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Market for Provision of Positive Activities for Young People, Research Report RW75, Department for Education and Skills
Links: RW76 | RW74 | RW72 | RW73 | RW75 | NDNA press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Aug
The government published its response to a consultation on youth services. It said that young people would be offered more choice and influence over the services and facilities that were available to them.
Source: Youth Matters: Next Steps - Something to do, somewhere to go, someone to talk to, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Summary | DfES press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report examined the services and projects for children and young people that had been funded in disadvantaged communities in Scotland through the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund. There had been a significant focus in BNSF on developing services for children and young people. Projects for children and young people accounted for an average of a third of the pathfinders budgets.
Source: Liz Shiel, Ian Clark and Francesca Richards, Children and Young People Services and Projects in the BNSF Programme, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Feb
A survey found that 95 per cent of local authorities thought the voluntary sector was a valuable partner and said they planned to commission more services from youth-based voluntary organizations: but almost half said they felt that they did not have a network which represented the interests of the voluntary sector.
Source: Leader Survey, Prince's Trust (020 7543 1234) and National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jan