Youth service jobs set to go under Wiltshire community-led provision proposals

Wiltshire Council wants to scrap its current universal youth services provision in favour of a community-led model as part of plans to save £190,000 from the department’s £1.2m budget.

Under the proposals, funding will be devolved to community area boards – made up of young people and local residents – which will identify and design youth activities.

The plans will see the creation of an unspecified number of community youth officer posts to provide advice to boards on youth-related issues and building provision.  

However, a council report reveals that its desired model requires job losses within the youth, early intervention and prevention services, thought to be 50 full-time equivalent posts affecting 144 members of staff.

The proposal was one of four options considered by the council as part of a 10-week consultation process, launched in February.

Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services, said the proposal reflects feedback collected during the consultation period.

She said: “We started this review with a lot of questions about what the future of youth services should look like and how we could ensure it reflects young people’s modern lives.

“The feedback we have received has given us answers and I’d personally like to thank everyone who took part in this consultation – to see so many young people engaged in local democracy has been excellent.

“It’s clear young people want support from a trusted member of staff and they also want a greater voice and more influence – these plans give them this.

“Young people have also told us they want a service that meets their individual community’s needs recognising their area’s unique identity and these proposals ensure they have this by devolving power and funding to area boards.”

In January, the Unite union warned that as well as job cuts, 24 youth centres could be closed if the council chose a community-led model.

The report is due to be voted on by the council on Thursday.