Government launches funding for alternative models of youth services

The Delivering Differently for Young People programme has earmarked the money to support up to 10 councils looking to run youth services using alternative delivery models, also including partnerships with community groups and the voluntary sector.

Councils have until 28 November to bid for a share of the funding and the bidding process is open to those with experience of delivering services using these models as well as those who are considering it.
 
The money will be given to councils to pay for technical, legal and consultancy work to set up youth services in this way.

The government expects successful bids to have their new service up and running by March 2016. They must also sign up to an agreement to share their experiences of setting up the alternative delivery model for other councils to learn from.

The fund is being managed jointly by the Cabinet Office, Department for Communities and Local Government, Local Government Association and Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.  

In their guidance notes they say that successful bids will have to show a commitment to giving young people a voice in shaping the service and measuring its impact on young people’s outcomes. This includes whether the work of the service improves long-term outcomes such as finding work.

It says: “We welcome applications that place young people at the heart of decisions about how to make services effective, including co-production and co-design.”