The Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention introduced the report of the Director of Children, Family and Education. The report provided the Children, Young People and Education Committee with an overview of the current Youth Offer on Wirral for children and young people. It also outlined key documents that have influenced Youth Work as a profession supporting the Youth Offer on Wirral.

The report noted that local authorities had a statutory duty to provide youth services. Section 507B of the Education Act 1996 states that local authorities must ‘secure as far as necessary practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational for young people’ and make sure young people have a say in the local offer. The Local Authority met its statutory responsibility through a localised youth offer which included provision delivered by the Local Authority Youth Services and commissioned third sector partners, at both universal and targeted levels.

Members asked if the majority of users of the HIVE, Wirral Youth Zone were from the Birkenhead area and whether officers foresaw a likely drop in attendance due to the regeneration work taking place in Birkenhead. The  Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention stated that the majority of attendees at the HIVE were from the local area and that officers did not expect a drop is usage.

A discussion took place on effective outreach, the use of the HIVE, Wirral Youth Zone, in Birkenhead and its finances as well as the Zillo website for young people and the Youth Provision in areas outside of Birkenhead.

Members queried how Wirral would be affected by the new guidance on statutory provision. Officers noted that Wirral was in a good position, already offering services that the guidance suggested such as an online presence. It was the intention to bring a further report to the committee on the new guidance.

Resolved – That

1.   The youth services provided for children and young people be reviewed and scrutinised.

2.  The receipt of a further report on how the Youth Offer meets the requirements of the statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under Section 507B of the Education Act 1996, issued September 2023 be agreed.