fun and learning for children and young people

Transcription

1 fun and learning for children and young people Strategic Plan

2 fun and learning for children and young people LAYC Strategic Plan Contents Page Our LAYC 3 Our Process 4 Our Values 4 Our Mission 4 Our Aims 5 Key Partners 8 Other Information 8 Staff & Contacts 8 LAYC is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Scottish Charity Number: SC Strategic Plan page 2

3 OUR LAYC LAYC is a member based organisation providing a range of support to over 140 youth and children's groups. LAYC covers the City of Edinburgh, East, Mid and West Lothian and accepts into annual members from not for profit groups that work with young people and children and who meets our membership criteria. We are a membership based organisation aiming to strengthen youth and children's work by supporting members to provide positive opportunities for children and young people. We have a history of innovation and development which reflects the changing needs of groups who deliver local provision. LAYC is supported mainly by The City of Edinburgh Council by way of a staff secondment and other funding. We are also assisted by East Lothian and West Lothian Councils by grants and Midlothian by other funding. In Edinburgh LAYC provides support to the Edinburgh Youth Work Consortium (EYWC). This group brings together youth work providers who work collaboratively to advance youth work across the sector and city. LAYC is part of the Youth Scotland Network, which provides joint membership and access to a range of services e.g. training, insurance. OUR CONTEXT In determining our strategic aims, the Board has taken account of the current policy context and has been informed by a number of these key drivers both current and future. This includes: Scottish Government's National Performance Outcomes National Youth Work Strategy Council's Single Plans or Outcome Agreements Council departments' strategic plans Curriculum for Excellence Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) The City of Edinburgh Council's 'Believing in Young People' Report Community Learning & Development 3 year plans We are aware that Local Councils' budget positions for the next few years will tighten and in particular funding/support for youth and children's work is likely to diminish. Given this increasing pressure on funding, member groups will need to be more skilful in securing core and developmental funds. LAYC are therefore committed to promoting the impact and benefits of community based/universal youth work and supporting member groups to identify other funding opportunities. We are aware that the ability to demonstrate the positive outcomes of quality youth and children's work, relates to the early intervention agenda and how investment in preventative approaches can reap longer term rewards. We also recognise that the pressure on Local Councils to commission and tender for services remains. However, collaborative and cooperative approaches bring significant mutual benefits that echo with our values. We remain committed to high quality youth and children's work because it is best able to deliver on the country's ambition to 'provide the best start' and 'most positive destinations' for our young people and children. We understand the importance of robust planning, quality delivery and evaluation and the need to monitor performance against identified outputs and outcomes. Within each of our stated aims we will monitor, evaluate and assess progress. A summary report will be submitted to the Board on a regular basis to enable monitoring and any actions required to meet or adapt the identified aims. page 3

4 OUR PROCESS LAYC is governed by an elected Board of Trustees who are responsible for strategic decisions and overseeing the operational work. LAYC undertook a significant consultation with member groups to assess what their needs were currently and what challenges they faced over the next few years. This Strategic Plan outlines the vision and priorities for LAYC over the next 3 years and how we will achieve and meet those. In turn, the Strategic Plan takes a number of distinctive aims and outcomes identified by and from the needs of member groups and shows how LAYC will strive to meet these. OUR VALUES We believe in young people and children and in their inherent right to access universal youth and children's provision that is shaped by their needs and aspirations. We believe that supported and encouraged local communities, are best placed to nurture and develop the children and young people who live there. We believe that quality youth work needs to be based on a voluntary relationship which starts where young people are and works alongside them on a learning journey. We believe children's work needs to be child centred and reflect play principles that embrace self discovery and learning by doing. We believe that adults who work with children and young people need to be adequately checked, trained and encouraged to deliver quality provision. We believe co-operation and collaboration at club, community and Council levels provides better services for children and young people. We believe in supporting local communities to value children and young people and realise their potential. We believe that equality and integrity lies at the heart of what we do and is essential in being an honest, reliable and trustworthy organisation. OUR MISSION LAYC will champion, grow and strengthen the quality of youth and children's work by supporting our members to provide positive opportunities for children and young people. page 4

5 OUR AIMS Aim 1 Strengthen and Support To strengthen and support members to maintain existing services; develop a stronger network of collaborative support and help groups to secure funding. 1.1 Provide regular information, support and consult member groups on the shaping and delivering LAYC services 1.2 Direct member groups toward potential funding and improve confidence in making funding applications 1.3 Seek to involve staff from member groups to assist in delivering and developing LAYC services 1.4 Increase contact and services to Edinburgh East, Mid and West Lothian Produce and further develop regular newsletter Fast Networks & weekly E- Bulletins and undertake an annual members survey Continued access to PVG checks and Child Protection support Continued access to LAYC small grants schemes Circulate funding opportunities and support funding applications Develop a pool of staff/volunteers who can provide specialist knowledge and support to other members Deliver a proportion of LAYC services directly funded for youth/children groups in East, Mid and West Lothian Output 1 - Fast Networks & E-Bulletins are produced regularly Output 2 - Provide funding support to groups regarding relevant training courses and support with funding applications Outcome 1 -LAYC funding support is valued by members Outcome 2 - Member groups feel more confident about maintaining existing services Aim 2 Improve Quality To improve the quality of youth and children's work undertaken by member groups through affordable and accessible training, and strengthening of group's governance. 2.1 Encourage relevant member groups to join the After School Clubs (ASC) Co-operative Charter 2.2 Provide a regular training programme and develop new courses 2.3 Secure support and funding to enable LAYC to deliver the Personal Development Award (PDA) in Youth Work course 2.4 Support Boards and Committees to feel more confident to govern effectively 2.5 Create opportunities for member groups to share good practice, innovative ideas and promote collaborative working Draft, design and deliver a self evaluation based Quality Assurance pack for after school club charter members Deliver core training programme and develop new core courses Seek support from Youth Scotland and CLD Standards Council to secure funding for PDA Deliver bespoke training and support for trustees of Boards, particularly those that are new to this role Sustain and develop existing ASC Managers forum as well as creating opportunities for youth workers to network Output 1 - Monitor uptake and measure effectiveness of training offered Output 2 - Create and distribute Quality Assurance ASC pack Outcome 1 - Evidence that LAYC training improves the confidence and competence of youth & children's workers Outcome 2 - PDA in Youth Work is secured over three years page 5

6 Aim 3 Grow Membership To grow the membership through recruiting new members and sustain existing membership, particularly local/community groups. 3.1 Create bespoke promotional materials that describe LAYC and the benefits of membership 3.2 Establish contacts with senior local authority and voluntary sector managers in each of the local authority areas to promote LAYC 3.3 Support the establishment of new groups 3.4 Identify existing groups who are eligible for membership Produce material that can be used to promote LAYC and member benefits Contact relevant local authority/voluntary organisations in each area and develop a database of potential members and target them with promotional materials Make new groups aware of support available including access to appropriate LAYC services Follow up new members to ensure they are aware of services available and how to access them Output 1 - Monitor membership and reasons for non renewal Output 2 - Membership in Edinburgh East, Mid and West Lothian increases Outcome 1 - Strengthens LAYC's role as an umbrella body giving voice to youth/children's sector Outcome 2 - Evidence LAYC's services are meeting members needs Aim 4 Champion the Sector To champion the sectors interests through the promotion of existing good practice and benefits of community based youth/children's work. 5.1 Create materials that promote the importance of universal/community based youth and children's provision 5.2 Promote the work of LAYC and our members 5.3 Encourage member groups to alert LAYC to pertinent issues and concerns they have and for LAYC to take actions as appropriate 5.4 Support members Chair's Group and Edinburgh Youth Work Consortium (EYWC) to advocate on behalf of youth work and how we can provide support to the other local authority areas. 5.5 Create opportunities for member groups to network effectively Have regular e-contact with elected members Support opportunities for workers to come together to share practice, consider common issues and promote good practice Create a range of ways for member groups to raise issues Support the members Chair's Group and EYWC and take the lead on issues arising as appropriate Disseminate promotional materials that support the 'championing' of community based provision Utilise social media to promote LAYC and members work Output 1 - All elected members in Lothian receive information about the work of LAYC and member groups Output 2 - Hold regular meetings of Chair's Group and EYWC Outcome 1 - Championing of the sector strengthens LAYC's role as an umbrella body giving voice to youth/children's sector Outcome 2 - The City of Edinburgh Council's recognises the effective role played by LAYC in the city page 6

7 Aim 5 Future Planning To plan for the future by keeping abreast of local and national policies and research that impacts on youth and children's work and informing members of such. 5.1 Monitor both national and local policies that will impact on member groups and regularly alert members to such 5.2 Devise ways for member groups to be aware of and respond to national, local policies impacting on their work 5.3 Alert member groups to emerging funding streams drawn from policy initiatives 5.4 Seek to develop our capacity in response to the implications and implementation of policy/research for youth and children's work Strengthen links with those local and national bodies who monitor policy Members have opportunities to be informed of and respond to emerging policy initiatives Devise and share pilot applications in relation to new policies or priorities Secure funding for LAYC to provide information to member groups to develop responses to new policies Output 1 - Disseminate relevant policy information Output 2 -Report on number of member responses to policy consultations Outcome 1 - Members accessing emerging streams after shared support Outcome 2 - Funding support secured to carry out policy role page 7

8 KEY PARTNERS CLD Services LAYC seeks to work with Community, Learning and Development or equivalent services in all of the local authority areas we work in. Member Groups LAYC member groups are a key partner in everything we do and provide legitimacy to the work we undertake with and for them. Youth Scotland LAYC is an Area Association for Youth Scotland. Groups affiliating to LAYC automatically gain membership of Youth Scotland which gives member clubs links and access to a range of national programmes and support. NHS Lothian LAYC is supported by NHS Lothian to provide tobacco action grants and accredited training for youth workers. OTHER INFORMATION Action Grants Members can access various community grants which provide small pieces of funding such as, community safety, tobacco and young people, after school co-operation Child Protection & Checks LAYC plays a key role in ensuring children and young people are kept safe and members can access relevant policies, advice and regular training on child protection. In addition LAYC carries out staff and volunteer PVG checks. E-bulletin Service This free subscription service to member groups provides a weekly e-bulletin that carries staff vacancies from across the membership and sector, information on training and relevant events to over 1300 subscribers. Fast Networks We produce a regular online and paper based newsletter, Fast Networks, with news about LAYC opportunities and projects as well as information about what member clubs are doing. Governance LAYC is registered as a Scottish Charity and is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). Our Scottish Charitable number is SC Social Media LAYC is developing the appropriate use of social media as an additional means to communicate with member groups, other agencies and elected members. Training Programme LAYC offers a wide ranging training programme which is available to all volunteers, part and full time staff in member clubs. We also offer training for trustees and committee members. Website The website gives information about activities, membership, policies, resources and training that are available and offered to member clubs. The website has a designated 'members only' area for members which hosts important information that only members can access. STAFF AND CONTACTS LAYC staff are based at Dunford House which is owned by LAYC. Ian Boardman Director [email protected] Graham McCulloch Development Officer [email protected] Gillian Stanway Senior Administrator [email protected] LAYC, Dunford House, 7 Boroughloch Lane, Edinburgh EH8 9NL t: (0131) f: (0131) e: [email protected] LAYC is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). Scottish Charity Number: SC page 8

9 fun and learning for children and young people Dunford House 7 Boroughloch Lane Edinburgh EH8 9NL t: (0131) f: (0131) e: [email protected] LAYC is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Scottish Charity Number: SC009193