Review urges Blackpool to create youth work strategy with young people
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Blackpool needs a youth work strategy co-designed by young people to improve the area's outcomes, a review of provision has found.
The National Youth Agency (NYA), which carried out the review in partnership with Youth Focus North West, recommends the creation of a youth participation strategy, spanning all 21 wards in Blackpool.
The research has “highlighted the need to involve young people in the design and decision-making of youth services offered in Blackpool”, Leigh Middleton, NYA chief executive, said.
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It recommends that the creation and implementation of the strategy is overseen by a group of young people.
“Youth participation facilitates a feeling of ownership that increases the likelihood of an initiative’s success.
“Effective, high-quality youth work can enhance young people’s life chances. It offers young people safe spaces to explore their identity, experience decision-making, increase confidence, develop interpersonal skills, and think through the consequences of their actions,” Middleton added.
The review adds that “all young people should have the right to youth provision that is within a 15-minute walk of their homes” delivered by “a youth work trained workforce”.
It notes that Blackpool is among the most densely populated areas in the North West of England and has very high levels of disadvantage.
It states that while youth services in Blackpool “provide” targeted provision and support services for young people” the area suffers from a “lack of awareness of how young people can access provision and services”.
Signposting and communication around youth services should be overseen by one agency underpinned by a youth advisory board, it adds.
The research was commissioned by Blackpool Council and overseen by a steering group made up of local voluntary community youth sector organisations and representatives from the local authority.
It was launched in autumn last year and will form part of the development plan for provision of services aimed at seven- to 25-year-olds across Blackpool. The plan is expected to be published this summer.
Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “It is so important that we get the provision for our young people outside of their education and more formal environments right. I know that good-quality youth provision can enhance and improve young people’s life chances and must be available to all our children and young people.
“I am passionate about what we can offer our young people and I am looking forward to seeing this develop and ensuring more young people are involved in shaping what they want, need and will benefit from.”