Cabinet Office supports development of eight youth mutuals

The councils hope to follow in the footsteps of Knowsley, in Merseyside, and Kensington and Chelsea youth services, which launched as mutuals earlier this year.

The eight authorities are taking part in the Cabinet Office’s Mutuals Success training programme, which is designed to help youth service staff develop the skills required to split off from local authority control.

The programme also informs staff of how mutuals can improve outcomes for young people and equip them with various life skills.

A spokeswoman for Torbay Council, one of the authorities taking part in the programme, said: “Due to the unprecedented budget cuts from central government, Torbay Council looked at how we could continue to deliver youth services effectively to young people.

“The recommendation made to progress towards a mutual – Torbay Youth Trust – was signed off by the full council in September 2013 and progress is being made to trade by the beginning of the 2015 financial year.

“Torbay Youth Trust will continue to provide support and services for many young people who find themselves lacking confidence, needing advice or facing very real challenges to their health and wellbeing.”