Issue - meetings
Youth Capital Fund
Meeting: 15/10/2009 - Grants Panel (Item 5)
5 Update on the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds in Tower Hamlets (GP 03/0910) PDF 81 KB
Decision:
Resolved:
(1) That the report (GP 03/0910) on the implementation of the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds in 2009/10 be noted; and
(2) That the Youth Opportunity Fund Initiative be given a double page spread in the East End Life Magazine promoting the scheme. That the Deputy Leader of the Council be requested to implement this recommendation.
Action by:
CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES (K. COLLINS)
Service Head, Youth and Community Learning, Children's Schools and Families (M. Durkin).
Head of Youth and Connexions Services, Children's Schools and Families Services (D. Hossain)
Minutes:
Mr Dinar Hussain (Head of Youth Services and Connextions Services) introduced the report highlighting the salient points.
Mr Hussain reported that in 2009/10 Tower Hamlets had been allocated £427,000 for the Youth Opportunity Fund £125,320 additional Youth Opportunity Fund through the Mayor’s Offer and £183,600 for the Youth Capital Fund.
He reported that officers from youth services worked closely with the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and Youth Capital Fund Panel to develop and administer the funds. The representatives were recruited from across the Borough and have received accredited training in grant making.
Ms Antonia Dixey (Children and Young Peoples Participation Officer), welcomed to the meeting Anisah Akther, Nargis Begum, Tahabur Rahman who were present to report on the work of the YOF and their involvement in the initiative.
The representatives reported on how they heard about the Youth Opportunity Panel (YOF), how they got involved in the initiative, the training they had received, the shortlistings process, and made number of recommendations for future action.
In reply to questions from Members, it was reported that the YOF consisted of representatives from all eight LAP areas with two from each LAP area. When assessing the applications, the Panel endeavoured to award equal funding to each LAP. Every single project was given an equal chance and if they were unsuccessful would be referred to Youth Bank Tower Hamlets for help and support through funding factory programmes. All of the applicants were offered support during every stage of the process and were given feedback.
The YOF had a very good relationship with the Young Mayor’s Team. The Young Mayor regularly attends YOF meetings. The Young Mayor was preparing a report for the Council and a section of that report will be devoted to the YOF.
In relation to monitoring, it was noted that conditions were put on projects and the YOF representatives also visited the successful projects to ensure compliance with the conditions. There was also surprise visits and mystery shopping. The Young Inspectors also participated in the schemes to assess performance. They also checked the accounts and attendance records of the successful projects and training was provided to ensure the projects were delivering value for money and offered a diverse range of services. The funding was allocated incrementally and the final part was only allocated when all parts of the criteria had been satisfied. For this year, there were three rounds of funding in paired LAP areas.
The young persons representatives reported on some of their favourite YOF projects. A breakdown of costs per funding round and LAP area was before the Grants Panel.
In reply to questions about the under spend on some of the LAP area budgets, Ms Dixey reported that the service placed adverts promoting the scheme in the East End Life and visited schools and other young persons venues in every LAP area to ensure they were made aware of the scheme. Each paired LAP had been allocated the same amount of funding. The Grants Panel noted that ... view the full minutes text for item 5