Youth service boss quits Chyps over merger plans
Laura McCardle
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
A senior member of the Confederation of Heads of Young People's Services (Chyps) has stepped down from the organisation after learning of its plans to merge with Ambition.
Michael O’Brien, head of commissioning education and lifelong learning at Essex County Council, has emailed other heads of youth services in the east of England to announce his withdrawal as chair of Integrated Youth Services East (IYS) – a Chyps regional forum – following an announcement last week that the organisations could merge from April 2015.
Speaking to CYP Now, O’Brien said he is disappointed with the way the organisation has handled the plans and that, as a result, he no longer wants to be a member despite recently paying for a further two years of membership.
He said he was made aware of a potential merger earlier in the year and was asked to keep the plans under wraps until Chyps members had been consulted.
However, O’Brien claims that the announcement was made before any discussions took place.
He said: “As youth workers we are always on about consulting with our young people before we make a decision.
“But what it seems to me is that a decision has been made to merge [with Ambition] and no conversation has been had and no proper consultation of the members.
“I have got no problem with Chyps or Ambition but I pay my money to have a consultation.”
In addition, O’Brien said he disagrees with the idea of the sector “hanging its hat” with a single organisation when a number of others are working to support the delivery of youth services.
He said: “I don’t think it’s right for me to hang my hat on an organisation and say that’s the one without talking to them all. Why are we picking one organisation over another?
“I wouldn’t have paid [the membership fee] because that’s not something I want to be a member of. I wouldn’t want to choose any single organisation.
“I now fear for the future of organisations like National Youth Agency and UK Youth because where do they sit and what will they do if we’re saying that all heads of youth services back Ambition?”
In a statement responding to O’Brien’s comments, Chyps said members will have the opportunity to discuss the plans further during the organisation’s annual general meeting on Sunday.
It states: “Within Chyps we have been considering future opportunities for maximising our capacity to operate in a way that supports our members to commission and deliver services for young people locally.
“This means forging new types of relationships between local authorities and the voluntary sector.
“The Chyps board is focused on responding to this opportunity, hence our exploration for a merger with Ambition.
“We believe this will offer enhanced support for members and ultimately, benefit young people and communities in our local areas.”
