LONGBRIDGE’S youth centre will remain open following welcome news of Birmingham City Council’s (BCC) plans to retain and grow services for young people across the region.
The MP for Northfield, Laurence Turner, has welcomed the council’s announcement of a new model to deliver youth services across Birmingham which will see The Factory on Longbridge Lane remain open.
Mr Turner said: “This is exactly the kind of imaginative thinking we need.
“And in light of youth crime challenges (recorded youth crime is the only category that is growing), the outcome is incredibly important for the community.”
A new model for service delivery has been developed following feedback and engagement during a consultation process which concluded on Friday, January 17.
During the consultation period, more than 1,500 responses were received from young people and youth workers, which drew on their collective knowledge and experience and fed into the redesign.
Cabinet member for children, young people and families, councillor Mick Brown, said that input has been instrumental in shaping a ‘robust, sustainable, and enhanced operational model’ that will deliver the service’s priorities and support young people across the city.
He added: “Throughout the consultation process we have listened to young people and our amazing expert staff, and I know people are relieved that we now have a sustainable model for this hugely important work.”
The redesigned model is benefiting from additional funding to increase staff numbers and open up new special educational needs roles. Administrative support for services will be supplemented and new NHS funding has been secured.
Some youth centre’s operations will be outsourced. The council received 134 applications from partners, with 39 viable applicants shortlisted. One applicant will be implemented per youth centre outsoureced.
Soulla Yiasouma, head of youth services at BCC, said: “Birmingham’s youth service has been through a very challenging time and throughout this time our youth worker colleagues have continued to deliver an excellent service to our young people across the city.
“We are now in a position that we can focus on the future and move forward with a new model of delivery that gives us a good foundation where we can continue to develop.
“The future for the youth service is looking positive and we look forward to continuing to deliver a provision the young people of Birmingham deserve.”
Northfield MP, Laurence Turner, has written to the council for more details on the future of the youth services in his constituency. He plans to share information when responses are received.
