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Cllr John A. Wilson, Cabinet Member for Community Services

2011/12 Priority: Youth Development

 

Profile of the Maidstone borough

Maidstone has almost 15,000 10 to 17 year olds and the total population for Maidstone’s 0-19 year olds is set to rise by 7.3% by 2011 (Kent Children’s Trust). With the total population of Maidstone estimated to be 145,400 in 2008 (Kent County Council Mid Year Estimates 2009) this means over 10% of Maidstone’s population is made up of young people aged 10 to 17.The borough is made up equally of young people living in both rural and urban areas. Children and young people are being affected by deprivation in both rural and urban areas. 

 

 

11% of Maidstone’s population live within areas which fall into the most disadvantaged 20% in the country across a broad range of issues, as identified by the government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation. These areas includes the wards of:

 

·                Fant

·                Heath

·                High Street

·                Park Wood

·                Shepway South and Shepway North

 

Within these areas experience are higher levels of:

 

·           Teenage pregnancy

·           Lower levels of skills and qualifications

·           Higher levels of crime and child poverty

·           Entrance into the criminal justice system

 

There is a clear linkage with child poverty, and it is evident that these wards require greater focus than others.

 

 

To illustrate this, data shows that Maidstone has:

 

·                A relatively high number of 16 – 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). In 2008 Maidstone had the fourth highest NEET rate when compared to the other districts in the county, and therefore also had a higher average rate than Kent. There are particular wards within the Borough that have much higher NEET levels than others. The highest of which is Park Wood, followed by High Street, Shepway South and Shepway North.

 

·                During 2008 Maidstone had the third highest numbers of entrants into the youth justice system of any district in Kent, and experienced a significant increase in numbers between 2007 and 2008. Some wards which have significantly higher numbers of young offenders. High Street has the highest rates, followed by Shepway South and Park Wood wards.

 

·                Though the Borough has a higher proportion of school leavers achieving five or more A* - C grade GCSEs, there are considerable differences between the performance of particular schools within the Borough. Four secondary schools performed below the 30% threshold set by national government.

 

Consultation

In 2008/2009, specific consultation was carried out with young people across the borough on the development of a Youth Development Strategy, which has now been incorporated into the draft Community Development Strategy (2011-2015). The consultation included;

 

‘What young people said’

Young people believe their priority issues are:

 

·                Better Information – website of things to do.

·                Better relationship advice in schools and the community. (Maidstone Youth Scrutiny Sex and Relationship Report)

·                Civic participation (Area Youth Consultation 2009)

·                Reduce Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) group (Area Youth Consultation 2009)

·                Increase voluntary activities (Area Youth Consultation 2009)

·                Reduce entry into Youth Justice System (Area Youth Consultation 2009)

·                Increase positive activities (Area Youth Consultation 2009)

·                Give priority to healthy lifestyles (Area Youth Consultation 2009)

·                Cheaper fares for those over 16, who are still in full time education. (Maidstone Youth Forum Transport report)

·                Cheaper cinema tickets

·                Somewhere to go (Hanging About Report)

·                Opportunities to catch up with Friends (Hanging About Report)

 

‘What the professionals said’

Professionals believe the priority issues for young people are:

 

·                Increase learning skills to cope with life after school/home

·                Communicate what is going on for young people (e.g. a leisure guide or focused Young Persons web site)

·                Improve relationships for life in the adult world

·                Local opportunities to access facilities and sports activity

·                Identify suitable places for young people to ‘hang out’

·                Find activities for young people to undertake

·                Reduce cost of using local facilities as opposed to out of the area

·                Improve transport issues and associated costs (especially in rural areas)

·                Better facilities for young people, such as teen shelters and multi use games areas that are floodlit and in a safe visible place

·                More floodlighting at the skate parks in the winter (Be Free – Detached Workers)

 

Looking ahead

The Community Development Team leads on youth development for the borough council, but works closely with other units such as Parks and Open Spaces, Environmental Services and the Community Safety Unit as well as external partners such as the Maidstone LSP Local Children’s Trust Board, Kent County Council Youth Service, YMCA and Switch Café to co-ordinate and jointly deliver projects. There is already a youth focus to the work of the team with the possible exception of the older person’s forum but even in this case the team are keen to work with the older person’s forum to undertake intergenerational work. The team have compiled a list of events for the coming summer months (see page 5). Parks and Open Spaces have also recently completed a programme with a strong youth focus for 2011 also attached.

 

In addition the Community Development Team runs a number of term time and holiday activity clubs for children and young people (see attached Community Development newsletter). There are also some commissioned projects such as the Charlton Community Programme that runs on Monday and Tuesday nights in Coxheath, Park Wood and Shepway and Be Free that operates in Park Wood, Mangravet and Clare Park play areas. New projects include the boxing project being developed at New Line Learning, an activity club for 8-12 year olds planned for Shepway from September and a Youth Café health project also planned to start in September. Both projects will include outreach/community activities to raise their profile and engage young people and families over the summer holidays. With West Kent Arts Partnership the Community Development team is commissioning Traditions a traditional folk dance and music programme in primary schools working towards the cultural Olympiad in 2012.

 

The Community Development Team also supports Maidstone Youth Forum. This is going through a review currently and a report is being prepared setting out options for the future of the youth forum, but in the short-term it is expected that the youth forum members current and new will be working over the summer to prepare for Peace One Day in September and towards developing a My Town website for young people over the autumn/winter. The CDU are also responsible for the Hotfoot play schemes and SportsLink sports camp. The latter will be including more play and even art projects in the future and may in time combine with the 8-12 project. The Community Development Team also grant supports community play schemes six parishes. The Community Development Team also supports Say No and Phone music and dance nights at Mote Leisure Centre with the Community Safety Unit’s Paul Richardson.

 

The wider Community Development and Partnerships Section has also a strong focus on youth. It now co-ordinates the Local Children’s Services Trust. Linked to this are the Maidstone LSP conferences on Child Poverty and Teenage Pregnancy.

 

In essence there is already an extensive programme and strong focus on youth. However, it might be the case that this isn’t always understood and appreciated more widely by the general public, other stakeholders or even young people – although the majority of events and activities are well attended. It may be more a case of greater or even a different approach to publicity. The council is currently developing a new Communications and Engagement Strategy which aims to promote the work of the council and increase participation and engagement with the public. This sets out a number of actions to address public perceptions and improve engagement with residents. One of the actions in this is to promote a council calendar of events. It may be that by working with the Communications Team to achieve even greater co-ordination and publicity, that the youth focus for the portfolio can be achieved.

 

Forthcoming Youth Development events 2011/12

Date	Project	Description
Tuesday 31st May – Thursday 2nd June	Sports Link   ·         Summer dates to be confirmed	Sports camp 8 – 16 year olds Astor of Hever School 9am – 4pm £10 per day
Wednesday 1st June	DMAX Taster Day	Disability Sports Club Taster Sessions 8 – 19 years Bower Grove 1pm – 4pm Book through Aiming High
Friday 24th June	SNAP	Say No and Phone Dance Nights Under 18s Maidstone Leisure Centre 7pm – 11pm £5 a ticket, on the door or at school
Monday 13th June	Kwick Cricket	Primary schools cricket competition 12-6pm Mote Cricket Club
Thursday 23rd June	International Olympic Day	Maidstone school sports partnership 1pm – 5pm
Saturday 25th June	Uprockin	Skateboarding and BMX Competition South Park 12noon – 6pm Free Open to all ages with face painting, bouncy castle, sports sessions and much more!
Tuesday 28th June	Children’s Triathlon	Mote Park Swimming, cycling, running open to primary schools in Maidstone.
Saturday 2nd July	Mote Park Active Play Day	BMX, Climbing walls, bungee trampolines + other challenging activities 12 – 18 years Mote Park 12pm – 4pm Free
Saturday 16th July	Staplehurst Uprockin	Skateboarding and BMX Competition Staplehurst Skate Park 11am – 5pm Free Open to all ages
Friday 22nd July	Community Day	Community Day - Kent Police Melford Drive 4pm – 7pm Free
Monday 25th July – Friday 19th August	Hotfoot	Play schemes for 5-11 year olds Running at Bower Grove, Oaktrees, Eastborough and Sandling. 10am – 2pm £25.25 a week (concessions £15.15)
Wednesday 3rd August	36 Regiment Community Day	Community Day for Gurkha community  Organised by Kent Police Army Barracks, Maidstone 1pm onwards Free
Saturday 6th August	Jam in the Park	Music Event for young people Organised by NLL students Brenchley Gardens
Saturday 6th August	Barming Community Day	Community Day – Kent Youth Service
Saturday 20th August	Parkwood Community Day	Community Day – Play Place (Be Free) and Kent Youth Service
Saturday 10th September	Peace One Day	Live Music Event Whatman Park 12noon – 6pm Free Open to all ages with face painting, bouncy castle, sports sessions and much more!
Sunday 11th September	Maidstone Mela	Mote Park
Friday 23rd September	SNAP	Say No and Phone Dance Nights Under 18s Maidstone Leisure Centre 7pm – 11pm £5 a ticket, on the door or at school