Cornwall is one of only 12 local authorities selected to take part in a national scheme aimed at improving activities, services and opportunities for young people.
Following a successful bid to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the council has been awarded more than £677,000 to deliver its Local Youth Transformation Pilot in partnership with Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) youth groups.
Cornwall has been chosen because of existing strengths in youth work in our children’s services and the high-quality youth work being delivered through VCS groups.
It aims to strengthen youth services across our communities and improve engagement with children and young people, especially in isolated and rural areas.
The pilot will enable the council and all youth organisations and groups across Cornwall to work collaboratively to achieve this goal.
The grant funds three new Youth Transformation Lead posts, for east, mid and west Cornwall. Each will help develop a ‘youth offer’ for their area.
This will include Area Youth Forums as well as a virtual hub for youth organisations and services in their area.
And they will also be out and about in their towns and villages for at least 10 hours a week, visiting schools and other groups and listening to the views of parents, carers, children and young people.
On top of the three new posts, other benefits of the pilot will include:
- Developing and delivering training for youth workers and volunteers across Cornwall and promoting youth work as a career.
- Creating a ‘digital youth work offer’, to support isolated young people.
- Setting up a support fund which will be made available to VCS organisations.
Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Schools at Cornwall Council, said:
“I’m genuinely delighted that Cornwall is one of 12 local authorities chosen by government to deliver this pilot. It’s a real vote of confidence in the work already happening here, and in our ambition to rebuild a strong, locally-led youth offer across Cornwall.
“This isn’t just about funding. It’s about belief: belief in our young people, in our youth workers, and in the power of community to open doors and change lives.”