As previously agreed, Cllr Harney reminded the Committee that alternate meetings would be chaired by the members of the Executive Youth Board.

Cllr. Clarke proposed and Cllr. Meaden seconded the proposal that two members of the Executive Youth Board co-chair the meeting.

Resolved:

That Stephen Pollard and Juhi Gupta co-chair the meeting.

The chair welcomed everyone and took apologies for absence.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2009

The minutes were checked for accuracy, and no corrections were needed:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 12th February 2009, be accepted as a true record.

Re: Minute 48:

The meeting between the Party Spokespersons, the Executive Youth Board (EYB) and the Mayor Elect to examine the relationship between the Youth Parliament and the Council had not yet taken place.  A date was still to be determined.

Re: Minute 49:

Cllr Anderson enquired about developments at Woodchurch. Steve Chan reported than the Play facility was open on Thursdays and there was funding for a Summer Activities programme.

Resolved:

That the Committee be kept informed.

Lindsay Davidson presented the report of the service’s recent activities, and drew the Committee’s attention to the following:

a)  Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) funding had been secured until the end of March 2010, allowing Ria Modena and Adam Mellor to continue in post.  The funding focuses on increasing opportunities and activities for young people on Friday and Saturday nights.

b)  Jeni Cockayne, Team Leader of Counselling Services, had retired after the best part of 30 years service. Her expertise will be missed, and a successor is expected to be appointed.

c)  Charing Cross Youth Club had been attracting up to 70 young people with special needs, and had been successful in several applications for additional funding.

d)  Eastham Youth Centre’s Gardening Project had led to young people gaining Youth Achievement Awards.

e)  Birkenhead Youth Action Project had widened their activities through YCAP funding on Friday and Saturday nights, and in the Woodlands area, young people were involved in developing youth provision at Grange Baptist Church.

f)  Young People at Fender Youth Action Project had successfully achieved Appointed Persons First Aid Certificates.

g)  South Wirral Young People’s Project had delivered an Easter Positive Activities Programme at Bebington High School.

h)  Leasowe Youth Club, with “Response” and Wirral Youth Theatre were creating a DVD on Homelessness, which will be used as part of a prevention programme across Wirral Schools.

i)  West Kirby Youth Centre’s MC Forum had proved effective in introducing new members, many of whom had travelled in from as far as Rock Ferry and Seacombe.

j)  Wirral Youth Theatre, who were present to video record the evening’s meeting, had been commissioned to perform their work “Swings and Roundabouts”, which examines the risks and consequences of alcohol, at Halton Stadium.  Their “My Ideal Teacher” DVD had now been launched and distributed to schools as a training pack for teachers. A successful application for £15,000 to the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) had enabled a break dance project to develop across the Borough.

k)  Wirral Youth Theatre had also been selected as one of England’s five projects to run “Voltage”, a “V” music volunteering programme for young people, aged 16-25.

l)  “Response’s” Alcohol drop-in service has come on stream this year for young people, with or without their parents/carers, to informally discuss the risks, consequences and impact of alcohol misuse, and the Outreach Team is re-starting Saturday night street work.  The Housing Support Team’s “Stop Gap” project has been acclaimed by the Job Centre as “life changing”.

m)  A group of Looked After Children successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Bronze Award Expedition, thanks to a successful application to the YOF. Over 150 Awards were presented by the Deputy Mayor at the Town Hall, Wallasey.

n)  This year’s International Exchange with Hong Kong is on schedule with the visitors being in Wirral from 12^th-25^th July 2009 and the Wirral young people visiting Hong Kong from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Lisa Joy of Fender Youth Club, with three young women reported on the Virtual Babies Programme in Woodchurch.

The aims of the programme were to simulate pregnancy and the care of a new-born baby using an “electronic baby”.  This virtual baby reproduced all the usual demands of babies, requiring to be fed, have its nappy changed, put to sleep, washed, dressed and attended to when crying.

The programme also covered risk-taking behaviours.  This covered not just behaviours which led to becoming pregnant but also the impact of such behaviours during pregnancy on an unborn baby.

There had been two courses so far, leading to 16 Accredited Outcomes. Further courses are underway with a waiting list, and a course exclusively for young men is a distinct possibility.

There are now 10 virtual babies, 2 “bumps” to simulate pregnancy and special virtual babies which can display symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome” and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  The virtual babies cost around £500 each and have been purchased with assistance from the YOF.

The young women gave a demonstration of what the virtual baby could do and answered questions from Committee Members.

  Resolved:

That the report be noted and the Staff and Members of Fender Youth Club be congratulated on an exemplary piece of practice.

The Youth & Play Service Development Plan was presented to the Committee. It was explained that because of the re-configuration of the Service due to take place later in the year, the plan was only for the current municipal year.

The issue of the Community Audit was raised which requires a map of facilities and menu of opportunities to be created.  Young people had a role within this.

The plan inks into and contributes to the Children and Youth People’s Department Plan.  Elected Members requested that progress be reported on at future Committee Meetings, to inform and update Members so they could lend support to any issues arising.

  Resolved:

i)  The Plan be accepted;

ii)  Progress be reported at future meetings.

Staying Safe Group

Ellis Palmer reported on a meeting held with Police.  The agenda covered Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) and Section 30 Order for the dispersal of groups and removal of persons under 16.

About a quarter of the 48 ASBOs issued in Wirral are on under 18s.

There are two Section Order 30 active in Seacombe.

Another concern of the Group is the lack of adequate lighting in public parks.

Positive Contribution Group

Juhi Gupta and Sea Rainey reported on homeless young people and prevention work.

They reported on initiatives such as the Stop Gap which strived to address the basic physiological needs of shelter, warmth and food. Successful applications to the YOF had provided funds to assist the project.

They brought to the Committee’s attention that young people who were homeless or had insecure tenancies were more likely to have difficulty in having their voice heard.  The EYB were examining ways in which they could engage with such young people, and Charlotte Flanders had spoken to the Job Centre to create one such route.

Transport

Charlotte Flanders reported that transport for young people was a recurring issue, not just on Wirral but nationally.  The matter had been raised at Youth Forums, the Youth Parliament and in other parts of the country.

The Grant Panel who decide on YOF applications were looking at commissioning transport opportunities for young people. They were seeking to consult on the precise needs of young people and were opening negotiations with transport providers. 

Lighting in Parks

Stephen Pollard reported on the benefits of adequate lighting in public parks, such as a reduction in nuisance, increased feelings of safety and more use by families.  Cllr. Meaden and Charlotte Flanders confirmed these findings which had emerged following the introduction of lighting in the parks in Tranmere and Rock Ferry.

A possible route for funding was the Area Forums where young people could present an application to the Area Community Funds. An initial application might look at play areas, and would need to look at costs, green/energy saving issues, stray light and general security. Support from the C&YP and the Technical Services Department would strengthen the case, and the Chair of the Area Forum be approached to have the item added to the agenda.

  Resolved:

That the Members of the EYB be thanked for their report.

There were no other items of business.

Members would be informed of the date of the next meeting after the new Council had determined the membership of Committees and meeting cycle towards the end of the month.

Stephen Pollard formally returned to Cllr. Harney, who thanked him and Juhi for doing an excellent job.  He then declared the meeting closed at 6:40 p.m.