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Added value beyond that brought by the funding alone including:
1.1 A more cohesive approach to universal youth work delivery.
1.2 Better understanding of the challenges and of the services available across the area.
1.3 Better use and sharing of the limited resources.
1.4 A service that is better able to respond to changes in need.
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Increased mutual trust for better future collaborative working.
THE PARTNERSHIP
ABOUT THE STRATEGIC YOUTH PARTNERSHIP
The Gannochy Trust in partnership with Perth & Kinross Council (PKC) are investing more than £900,000 over a three year period (April 2019 to March 2022) in local youth work agencies. Core and programme funding will strengthen youth work organisations in all five locality areas across Perth and Kinross.
Driving the initiative is a desire to counter a pattern of diminishing provision across Scotland. Austerity measures have led to an over-reliance on short-term funding. This has forced youth service providers to compete against each other, rather than collaborate to achieve wider benefits for young people. Rising demands for shrinking resources has caused funders to favour targeted forms of youth work, mostly in designated areas of multiple deprivation. Over time this has placed unrealistic expectations on youth work to 'fix' socio-economic and wellbeing issues. Consequently youth organisations have struggled to maintain services which are 'universal' or open to all young people, regardless of their background or levels of deprivation in their area.
Therefore, this pioneering investment seeks to develop universal youth work across the whole of Perth and Kinross. Within the contract, universal provision is defined for partners as a requirement to:
"proactively engage with local young people aged 11-19. It will focus on providing a local place to go for young people in the evenings and weekends, support their social and emotional wellbeing, offer them the chance to have their voice heard, allow them to take part in volunteering opportunities and encourage them to gain recognition of achievement and or accreditation. The service will be flexible and will work locally with partners to reflect the changing needs of communities and wider public service reform."
In this first year evaluation, the independent evaluators 'Catch the Light' report on progress to date and the value, learning and achievements on outcomes (see left) as set out for young people; for youth organisations and for the partnership.
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