NYA Update: Conference identifies partnership as the key to supporting young people

The sell-out event was chaired by David Bellotti, a member of the LGA’s children and young people programme board, and included keynote speeches from children and young people’s minister Tim Loughton, NYA chief executive Fiona Blacke and The Young Foundation’s Gemma Rocyn Jones.

David Bellotti talked about the important role of lasting partnerships in developing an offer for young people, especially with the increased role of commissioning: "This event provides us with an opportunity for us to showcase our ongoing partnership with the National Youth Agency.

"Collaboration is the key to ensuring outcomes for young people and we hope councils will continue to seek innovative national and local partnerships to benefit their young people."

The theme was reiterated by Tim Loughton, who emphasised the importance of partnering with young people to ensure effective outcomes.

"We are very proud of Positive for Youth. It brings together everything the government is doing to support young people and challenge negative stereotypes. It was developed with partners from across the government, businesses and, most importantly of all, young people," he commented.

"Councils are best placed to assess what is needed locally and should place young people at the heart of identifying and developing local services, while seeking opportunities to create innovative partnerships with business and the wider community."

National Youth Agency chief executive Fiona Blacke said feedback about the event had been tremendous. "The NYA has been working with 25 local authorities this year, providing support and direction, and this conference was an opportunity for delegates to not only hear from sector leaders, but some of these authorities on how they are negotiating the new landscape.

"As a result, we have already been approached by a number of authorities that are keen to take up
our offer of free support in 2012."

The NYA and LGA are now looking to run a second conference later in 2012 to provide more councils with the opportunity to meet, discuss issues and identify potential solutions.