Youth charities set for bigger role in Bradford

The independent review by People, Dialogue and Change, which was commissioned by Bradford Metropolitan District Council, called for more youth-related projects from local voluntary sector organisations should be commissioned and an independent consortium established to help manage and direct voluntary youth services.

The council discussed the report findings at a meeting last week and agreed that its youth provisions commissioner should take forward steps to develop better collaboration between public, voluntary, community, and uniformed and faith sector organisations delivering youth services.

Another key action is the council has requested that the strategic director of environment and sport services Steve Hartley oversees day-to-day running of Bradford's youth services, but with the director of children's services Michael Jameson retaining overall responsibility.

The council wants Hartley to lead the development of open-access and targeted services for young people, with greater emphasis on supporting and developing learning potential and building volunteering capacity.

The independent review involved looking in detail at the services and activities already on offer for young people in Bradford, with consultations and discussions with young people and voluntary groups to gain an understanding of how services should be developed.

It engaged with 1,004 young people, 258 youth projects and 124 stakeholder organisation representatives.

Speaking before the meeting, Dan Moxon, director of People, Dialogue and Change, said: “We carried out extensive research and consultation in completing the review and over 1,000 young people shared their views.

“The review highlights some excellent practice that the council and its partners can build on to make sure their services take account of the views and needs of young people.”

Jameson added: “The preferred option would mean we are able to target our work with young people more effectively, build capacity within the voluntary sector to deliver more for young people and develop stronger links with education so that young people get greater benefit from youth work.”