Building Capacity Through Social Capital-Revised Youth Engagement Infrastructure
North Lanarkshire Council · 13 September 2022
Back to Education, Children and Families Committee — 13 September 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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North Lanarkshire Council Report Education, Children and Families Committee Does this report require to be approved? ☒ Yes ☐ No Ref AG/AH Date 13/09/22 PO84.1 Building capacity through social capital/ Revised Youth Engagement Infrastructure. From : Alison Gordon, Head of Children, Families and Justice Social Work Services/Chief Social Work Officer E-mail gordonal@northlan.gov.uk Telephone 01698 332001 Executive Summary This report provides an update on the development and implementation of the revised Youth Engagement and Participation Infrastructure. The development of the new infrastructure, including proposals to expand local youth forums and to establish a ‘Transformation Board’ was approved at the Community Empowerment Committee on 23 August 2021. This report outlines key activities undertaken and milestones achieved over the past 12 months as well as setting out objectives for the year ahead. Recommendations It is recommended that the Education, Children and Families Committee: (1) note the changes that have been made to the youth participation structure, (2) endorse the next steps set out at 2.14 & 2.15 of this report (3) continue to support the development of improved youth engagement across the council committee structure. The Plan for North Lanarkshire Priority Support all children and young people to realise their full potential Ambition statement (20) Improve the involvement of communities in the decisions, and development of services and supports, that affect them
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1. Background 1.1 A new youth participation structure was agreed and implemented in North Lanarkshire in the summer of 2021. This change was introduced both to broaden participation and to ensure alignment with the nine community board model, by expanding from 6 to 9 locally based youth voice groups. The groups are supported and facilitated by CLD youth work staff members from each of the localities with membership recruited through existing provision, schools, and social media platforms. Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament whose constituency covers the locality also sit on these groups as well as on North Lanarkshire Youth Council (NLYC). An illustration of the Youth Engagement and Participation Infrastructure is attached as Appendix 1 to this report. 1.2 Each youth voice group nominates two representatives, additional to their MSYP, to attend North Lanarkshire Youth Council (NLYC). This has increased the number of members on NLYC from 21 to 27. 1.3 A key foundation of the revised infrastructure arrangements agreed at Community Empowerment Committee in August 2021 was the establishment of a ‘Young People’s Transformation Board’ composed of the nine NL MSYPs, nine representatives of the youth voice groups and a cross party representation of elected members. The aim of this initiative was to strengthen youth voice and engagement with key decision-makers with the Board providing a forum both to discuss and action issues raised by young people through the nine youth voice groups but also to address relevant issues arising in wider committee and community planning structures. 2. Report – Progress update: Scottish Youth Parliament 2.1 Between 8th and 21st of November 2021, young people aged 12-25 had the opportunity to vote on who represented them as Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs). North Lanarkshire was again commended as sector leading by achieving the largest total number of young voters in a single Local Authority, securing over 8500 votes. 2.2 In July 2022, North Lanarkshire hosted the Scottish Youth Parliament for its first in person sitting in over 2 and a half years. Over 200 MSYPs and their support workers gathered at Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld and enjoyed 3 days of activities. During the 77th national sitting of the parliament, debates and workshops took place on several issues including the future of education in Scotland, the cost of the school day, active travel, a ban on LGBT+ conversion therapy, substance misuse training, and mental health services for care experienced young people. In addition, young people from North Lanarkshire Youth Voice groups planned and prepared the evening activities for the MSYPs, with a beach party theme. 2.3 Members of the UK Youth Parliament from across the UK came together at the University of Hull from 22nd - 24th July to debate and vote on policy, as well as taking part in workshops, debates, and networking opportunities. Dean Collins, MSYP for Coatbridge and Chryston represented Central Scotland at this event.
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Youth Voice Groups 2.4 Our Youth Voice Groups were extended from six to nine in summer 2021, aligning with the wider community board structure. The aim remains that these groups are inclusive, fully reflecting the demographics of their area including seldom heard voices and those with protected characteristics. Each of the new youth voice groups have promoted the groups in a wide variety of venues and on social media to ensure all young people have the same opportunities to attend. 2.5 Training and accreditation opportunities have been offered to all youth forums with members completing training in First Steps to Youth Work, Mental Health Awareness and an SQA in Residential Experience. Members have also completed youth accredited awards in Dynamic Youth, Youth Achievement and Duke of Edinburgh. 2.6 Staff have taken part in training which will help them support and develop their local youth voice groups including UNCRC Awareness Training. Youth Summit/Future NL 2.7 To realise the ambition to establish a Young People’s Transformation Board a Youth Work Summit was held in in November 2021 in Airdrie Town Hall. This involved representative young people from all nine youth voice groups in North Lanarkshire, a cross party representation of elected members and council officers. During the summit discussions were held regarding local issues linked to key priorities and actions from the ‘North Lanarkshire Youth Work Interim Recovery and Renewal Plan 2020-2022’. (Appendix 2) 2.8 The Youth Summit concluded by asking the attendees to agree a name for this new Board reflective of its ambition. After several suggestions, a vote was held with the new group being named: Future NL, Young People’s Task Force. 2.9 The first official meeting of the new Future NL took place in February 2022. Issues discussed at this meeting included mental health and wellbeing, things to do and places to go, the environment, employability, jobs, and training and youth voice. 2.10 A decision was made to cancel the May 2022 meeting and move any agenda items to the next meeting due to the council elections and the SQA exams however it is planned that the new Future NL forum will meet quarterly going forward. Other key developments supporting voice and participation 2.11 A Voice Task Group linked to the multi-agency Improving Children’s Services Group has been established as a critical part of local children’s service planning structures and will support the delivery of North Lanarkshire Children’s Services Plan is constructed around the foundation of the Promise. Young people attend the Voice Task group on behalf of NLYC, Future NL and the Champions Board. 2.12 A Pupil conference was held in June 22 with over 200 young people representing S5 and S6 attending. Young people were given the opportunity to engage in conversation with peers from other schools around topics identified by the Educational Reference Group. 2.13 Staff have continued to work closely with key partner organisations and stakeholders within each of their localities including NHS Lanarkshire, the Scottish Fire Service, and several voluntary organisations, with a notable example of joint working supporting 12
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young people to attend and complete the Fire Reach programme during the Spring holidays. Next Steps 2.14 A range of activity is planned over the next 12 months to continue to embed and enhance youth engagement and participation: During August and September, young people will have the opportunity to use their voice when contributing to the upcoming NLC Youth Work Development and Delivery Plan. This plan is being developed in line with local and national priorities and co-produced with young people. Young people from across the participation and engagement structure and beyond are consulted to ensure the plan is relevant and reflects their views. • In August and September CLD Youth Work staff will take part in further training on UNCRC Awareness training and will train to deliver the Participative Democracy Certificate (PDC) which acknowledges and develops communication, decision- making and negotiation skills in the context of democratic engagement. Young people will then complete the award which is worth two credits at SCQF Level 5 (equivalent to a National 5 or SVQ 2) • In September, MSYPs from North Lanarkshire will again take part in a SYP national sitting. This time this will be hosted in the Scottish Parliament Buildings in Edinburgh. • Young people will also be supported to work with their local town Community Board Coordinators and Chairs to promote and encourage young people’s opinions and views leading to meaningful participation and action for positive change. All young people will continue to have access to opportunities to engage in the decision- making process and impact change within their local area. • In response to young people’s own concerns further developments are planned in relation to, support to young people who identify difficulties with their mental health. CLD in schools and the community will continue to promote their Living Life to the Full (A course to support young people to build key core skills to support them to change their mindset and improve their mental health) offer and look at ways of expanding this. This is closely aligned to wider work being undertaken within the service’s Mental Health and Wellbeing and Resilience Delivery Plan and the wider Children’s Services Plan 2.15 In addition to the above a range of additional actions are proposed to further develop Future NL and maximise the impact and opportunities offered by this innovative model: • The next meeting has been scheduled for Friday 16th September 2022 at 1pm in Coatbridge Community Centre. At this meeting, members will be given the opportunity to elect their Convener and Vice Convener and will look at selecting key priority areas which the group should focus on. The role of convener will be taken up by one of the young people on the task force with vice convener being an elected member. • Future NL will also begin planning and preparing to host a 2nd Youth Work Summit in November to coincide with National Youth Work Week. Members of Future NL will
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discuss how they will deliver on key priority areas and will use the Summit as an opportunity to continue to engage young people in discussions. • Future NL meetings with also be scheduled in February, June, and September 2023 to update on any key priorities. • Through Future NL members have had already the opportunity to engage in discussions around the new community hubs and the Council’s ambitious plans in relation to digital transformation and it is anticipated that these will continue to be key areas of engagement. • Arising from discussions both at Future NL and the recent Pupil Conference, a need has also been identified to strengthen the link between those involved in voice groups and pupil councils. This is an area of work which will also be further developed within the planned meetings of Future NL. 3. Measures of success 3.1 Ongoing evaluation of training and work plans will be carried out by the youth voice groups. 3.2 Successful completion of key actions from the North Lanarkshire Youth Work Interim Recovery and Renewal Plan 2020-2022 and Children’s Services Plan. 3.3 The work relates and supports the priority areas from The Promise and A quality framework for children and young people in need of care and protection. 3.4 Contributing to CLD measurable targets 3.5 Young people’s active participation within the community boards 4. Supporting documentation 4.1 Appendix 1 – Draft Youth Engagement and Participation Infrastructure 4.2 Appendix 2 – North Lanarkshire Youth Work Interim Recovery and Renewal Plan 2020-2022 4.3 Appendix 3 - Summary of feedback from the Youth Work Summit Alison Gordon Head of Children Families & Justice Social Work Services / Chief Social Work Officer
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5. Impacts ( http://connect/report-template-guidance ) 5.1 Public Sector Equality Duty and Fairer Scotland Duty Does the report contain information that has an impact as a result of the Public Sector Equality Duty and/or Fairer Scotland Duty? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? If Yes, has an assessment been carried out and published on the council’s website? https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/your-community/equalities/equality-and-fairer- scotland-duty-impact-assessments Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.2 Financial impact Does the report contain any financial impacts? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, have all relevant financial impacts have been discussed and agreed with Financial Solutions? The costs of the youth engagement infrastructure is currently funded through the core CLD budget, Any expansion of the work will be subject to available funding going forward. Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.3 HR policy impact Does the report contain any HR policy or procedure impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant HR impacts have been discussed and agreed with People and Organisational Development? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.4 Legal impact Does the report contain any legal impacts (such as general legal matters, statutory considerations (including employment law considerations), or new legislation)? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant legal impacts have been discussed and agreed with Legal and Democratic Solutions? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.5 Data protection impact Does the report / project / practice contain or involve the processing of personal data? Yes ☒ No ☒ If Yes, is the processing of this personal data likely to result in a high risk to the data subject? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, has a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) been carried out and e- mailed to dataprotection@northlan.gov.uk Yes ☐ No ☐
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5.6 Technology / Digital impact Does the report contain information that has an impact on either technology, digital transformation, service redesign / business change processes, data management, or connectivity / broadband / Wi-Fi? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? Where the impact identifies a requirement for technology, has an assessment been carried out (or scheduled) by the Enterprise Architecture Governance Group (EAGG)? Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.7 Environmental / Carbon impact Does the report / project / practice contain information that has an impact on any environmental or carbon matters? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.8 Communications impact Does the report contain any information that has an impact on the council’s communications activities? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? CLD will liaise with the Communication’s Team regarding the Communication’s strategy around the youth engagement infrastructure and the relevant developments. 5.9 Risk impact Is there a risk impact? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the key risks and potential impacts, highlighting where the risk(s) are assessed and recorded (e.g. Corporate or Service or Project Risk Registers), and how they are managed? Risks identified in relation to communications, young people acting out with the agreed TOR for the group in relation to social media posts etc. RA will be completed for all the activity and young people receive a briefing on the Council’s Communication policy and the use of social media, the MSYP ‘S also sign a code of conduct issue by the Scottish Youth Parliament.
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Appendix 1
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Appendix 2 Future NL Young People’s Task Force North Lanarkshire Youth Work Interim Recovery and Renewal Plan 2020-2022 Support young people to develop leadership skills by undertaking representation roles on the West Partnership, the North Lanarkshire Children’s Service Partnership and Committee structures amongst other functions.
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All members should act in the interest of Future NL, young people, and the local authority and operate in a manner consistent with the task forces purposes: • Listen and act on the views of young people in North Lanarkshire • Encourage young people to be active citizens and champion democracy • Recognise the value and potential of young people’s ideas and support them. • Support the Youth Voice structure across North Lanarkshire so that every young person can have their say All members of the task force would be responsible for taking any actions on the subjects raised to the relevant individuals or services. The task force would meet four times a year, with one of the four being a youth work summit for young people from the youth voice groups and other elected members to take part in wider discussions regarding youth issues. The role of convener will be taken up by one of the young people on the task force with vice convener being an elected member. The convener and vice convener will be nominated at the September meeting. The role of the convener (vice-convener in the convener’s absence) will be to oversee Future NL’s meetings, allowing for a good flow of discussion, making sure that decision making is inclusive for everyone. They will work with the vice convener and CLD development officer to support any Future NL business such as agendas/minutes of the meetings and support all the members to actively take part in meeting and events.
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Appendix 3 Below is a snapshot of some of main points from the Youth Work Summit in November 2021 and some of the suggested action points. Mental Health and Wellbeing Things to do and places to go The environment Employability, jobs and training Youth Voice Not discussed enough in schools More groups needed, including in the arts Not enough information in schools Not enough jobs out there Lack of pupil councils in schools Mental health is treated differently Transport costs are an issue Young people unsure of how to help Not enough support with budgeting No involvement in big decisions Covid19 was hard and impacted negatively mental health More weekend groups needed Vandalism is a big issue Need more help with writing CVs Sometimes feels like a box ticking exercise Not enough funding for mental health More advertising needed Not enough bins in schools, especially for recycling Schools favour further education rather than jobs Youth voices aren’t listened to as much as they should be Some people don’t understand LGBTI identities Issues with disposable masks
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Mental Health and Wellbeing Things to do and places to go The environment Employability, jobs and training Youth Voice Mental Health Ambassadors should be in all schools Young people need to know more about the new community hubs More climate change information in schools Life skills taught in PSE Advertise youth voice opportunities more Befriending Cafes Future Friday needs better social media presence Plant more Trees Workshops on CV development, Interview skills More representation of various ages on Youth Voice Teachers training in First Aid Mental Health Young Persons’ night at libraries Ensure water fountains are working in schools More Volunteering opportunities/work experience Rewards for Youth Voice Living Life to the full groups in areas More free events at sports centres/swimming Promote litter picks Work experience offered in all schools Feedback on things they get involved in Gather more opinions from Young People and listen Use more surveys/online methods