Decision details

PostiveActivites for looked after children and small grants awards using the underspend from the swimming money allocated in 2009/10

(1) To ALLOCATE £2,000 to support swimming, and the remaining funding to be used to support the two projects identified below;

(2) To ALLOCATE £10,000 to support the Looked after Children PSHE Project; and

(3) To ALLOCATE £13,000 to support the Youth Enablement Grant process in February 2012.

(1) This PSHE Project was initiated by the Bath and North East Somerset In Care Council.  In its role as corporate parent, it is appropriate for the Bath and North East Somerset Council to support the In Care Council in their work in promoting a better understanding of the lives and needs of young people in care. 

(2) The Youth Enablement Fund Small Grants programme has provided grants to the voluntary sector in Bath and North East Somerset, resulting in developed youth provision in the region. There is a robust system in place for decision-making, safeguarding, monitoring, and on-going support, and to date, following Panel decisions, we have only received positive support from the Voluntary youth sector regarding this process. The decision-making Panel includes young people and the voluntary sector, so we can feel confident that the views of those who will benefit from the grants are taken into consideration throughout the decision-making process.

(3) There continues to be a lot of interest in the funding scheme, including groups who have been awarded funding for youth consultation and hope to apply for funding projects requested by young people during the consultation. Additional funding for this project would enable us to award a similar amount of grant funding in the February round, and would further develop youth provision in Bath and North East Somerset.

(4) The Youth Service is delivering a core “Youth Offer” to young people in the area however as part of the Localisms Bill we are also supporting and enabling new provision to be set up by local people and supporting and working in partnership with larger organisations to deliver a wider youth offer to meet needs and fill in gaps in provision. A slightly larger Youth Enablement Grants fund will enable us to continue to support this work into 2012.

(1) Allocate £10,000 to support the Looked after Children PSHE Project

Sponsorship from organisations involved with the project – Bath Spa University is committing £10000 to this project; other organisations are devoting a considerable amount of support ‘in kind’, particularly through giving time to the project without charge.  Sponsorship from charities such as the Who Cares Trust – these charities have other significant financial commitments, so we decided not to pursue this option.

(2) Allocate £13,000 to support the Youth Enablement Grant process in February 2012 

If the decision is not supported then The Youth Enablement Fund will stand as it is but the third round will have a smaller funding pot to give out in February, however the work will be limited.