Youth work summer schemes: making the most of summer

1. Keep it local

A summer youth scheme can fall victim to its own success, proving so popular across the region that there are no places left for local young people. The London Borough of Hillingdon had this problem for its Fiesta programme of activities, with young people from neighbouring boroughs flocking in to take up places.

"There was one football competition with 20 places that was so full up with young people from Harrow and Hounslow that our local children couldn't get a place," explains Hillingdon deputy leader David Simmonds. "We needed to stop that."

The council's solution has been to ramp up fees for non-residents and offer cut price admission to local young people. For 2015's programme, a 20-place, five-day boxing programme will cost local young people £15, while those from other boroughs face a charge of £52.50. Meanwhile, a five-day climbing programme has a £70 price tag for non-locals, more than treble the cost for local young people.