Staffordshire considers scrapping universal youth service

Staffordshire County Council proposes to scrap its universal youth service offer, which is currently available to all young people between 13 and 19 years old, or 25 for those with learning disabilities, and instead target support at those who are most in need.

It also wants to work with other agencies in an attempt to provide a better range of activities, as well as improved advice and information services.

The plans would affect services delivered at 27 youth centres.

They are part of the council's attempts to cut £103m from its total budget.

The proposals follow an engagement exercise earlier this year, when the council met with public, private and voluntary sector staff working with young people.

It discovered a need for better targeted support for vulnerable young people, as well as better advice and guidance.

The council’s research also revealed that just one in five of Staffordshire’s 73,315 young people used its youth service over the last year, at a cost of £8.73m.

Philip Atkins, leader of Staffordshire County Council, thinks the proposed changes would benefit vulnerable young people in the long term.

He said: “Our vision is for all young people in Staffordshire to have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, to grow up happy and healthy, do well at school and find a good job.

“Our aim is to ensure these young people get the information and support they need to make the right choices in life, as well as providing highly specialist and targeted support to those who need it most.

“Other councils are ahead of us on this and we have seen how moving away from the universal to the targeted has increased participation and delivered results, while lowering costs.”

The council's cabinet will discuss the proposals on Wednesday and vote on whether to put them out to public consultation.

If they decide to consult on the plans, a public consultation will be launched on 8 January and will run for seven weeks.