The number of council-run youth centres in Birmingham is to go down to just four under cost cutting plans for the future of youth services in the city, we can reveal today. Community partners are now being sought to step in to save at-risk venues.
At risk are Oakland Young People’s Centre in Handsworth, Naseby Youth Centre in Alum Rock, Clifton Road Youth Centre in Sutton Coldfield, Lozells Recreation Group, The Vibe Youth Centre in Yardley and Soho Youth Project in Winson Green. The future of Small Heath Youth Centre is also ‘under review’ while Maypole Youth Centre
Venues declared safe under the proposals are The Factory in Longbridge, The Lighthouse in Aston, Shard End Youth Centre and Concord Youth Centre in Sparkbrook. Three Estates Youth Project in Kings Norton and ER Mason Centre in the city centre will continue under existing partnership arrangements.
The number of youth workers will go up according to the proposals, from 31 full time equivalents now to 40. Specialist and outreach services aimed at children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, children in care and children in alternative provision are also included in the shake-up.
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The recommendations follow lengthy consultation and are set out in an internal document that was presented to staff and councillors at a briefing earlier this week (Tuesday January 14th) and has been shared with BirminghamLive. The key recommendations include:
- Increase the number of youth service workers from 31 (full time equivalents) to 40
- Retain and directly fund council-run youth centres The Factory in Longbridge, The Lighthouse in Aston, Shard End Youth Centre and Concord Youth Centre in Sparkbrook.
- Five youth centres will go unless partners can be found to fund and run them. These are: Oakland Young People’s Centre in Handsworth, Naseby Youth Centre in Alum Rock, Clifton Road Youth Centre in Sutton Coldfield, Lozells Recreation Group, The Vibe Youth Centre in Yardley and Soho Youth Project in Winson Green.
- Three Estates Youth Project in Kings Norton and ER Mason Centre in the city centre will continue under existing partnership arrangements.
- The Maypole Youth Centre in Druids Heath will be retained pending the completion of the Druids Heath regeneration plan but will not be council funded long term.
Fears of wholescale redundancies of youth workers appear to have been allayed, with a new model created that focusses on retaining and increasing the number of expert staff while reducing the cost of running expensive buildings.
Set a future budget of just £1.178m a year to run the services, the council has worked with staff to come up with the alternative model, while also tapping into other sources of funding. The document, headlined Young People’s Services Redesign, was presented to councillors and staff by cabinet member Cllr Mick Brown, strategic director of children’s services Sue Harrison and director of schools and employability Steve Kay yesterday (January 14th).
In it they describe the challenges facing the council and the impact on services for young people as a result of ‘savings targets’ imposed on the directorate and council.
The Lighthouse Young People’s Centre is among the flagship centres which has been reprieved under the plans.
(Image: Handout)
They say: “Birmingham City Council remains committed to retaining a youth service as part of a youth offer across the city and youth centres. The aim has been to introduce a model which is sustainable and leading to growth.”
An initial workforce plan which envisaged a dramatic reduction in youth workers, a loss of all admin staff and the downgrading of the head of service post was met with anger by staff, who challenged the assumptions made. As a result the plans were redrawn and were presented to staff at a face to face session, also yesterday. The council has offered voluntary redundancy to any staff who still wish to depart as a result of the planned changes.
During the consultation period staff submitted a number of alternative models which the council say have informed their updated approach. These included: reinstating the head of service role as a Grade 7 post; retaining senior youth manager and youth support worker roles; consolidate administration roles with business support function; provide expert support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and for those in alternative education provisions; create a virtual schools team within the service for at least two years; and create a central team and four area teams to deliver a new service across the city.
In a slide highlighting the new approach, the council also indicates how it intends to tap into other youth resources across the city, including 610 Youth Club, Aspire and Succeed, Frontier Youth Trust, The Stonehouse Gang, St Gabriels, Spearhead Trust, All Saints Youth Project, Oasis Hub Hobmoor and Cherished.
The council hopes to attract partners to take over centres at risk under the Community Asset Transfer approach, but will need to do so quickly. One insider told BirminghamLive that at least one serious approach has been received for each of the at-risk venues.
All centres will remain open for now, though the service will be ‘reduced’, according to the documents seen.
In response to our inquiry today, Councillor Mick Brown, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “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.
“I know how important the Youth Service is to the young people of this city, and as the consultation draws to a close, I want to thank everyone who has helped us design a modern service that I hope can be expanded in the years to come to support young people in every community right across Birmingham.”
We have reached out to unions and Save Birmingham Youth Service campaigners for reaction to the plans.
Are you affected by these proposals? Please let me know your thoughts – email jane.haynes@reachplc.com or message 07471025568