The National Youth Agency - eYPU Issue 232, 26 November 2008

eYPU Issue 232, 26 November 2008

26 Nov 2008
Issue 232 includes details of new DCSF guidance for Children’s Trusts as well as more information on the government’s consultation on the roles and responsibilities of the Director of Children’s Services and Lead Member for Children’s Services.

PRE-BUDGET

The government announced in the pre-budget report that building projects benefiting from the Building Schools for the Future programme will be brought forward by twelve months. £800 million will be advanced, from a variety of funds including the Local Authority Modernisation Grant, Locally Controlled Voluntarily Aided Programme and Targeted Capital Fund for 14-19, and the SEN and disabilities fund.

Also of interest...

LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL

The government has announced an increase to the Learning and Skills Council's budget for the next financial year to £12 billion. Ministers expect colleges to focus on boosting greater participation in education and training, particularly post 16, raising attainment at 19 and reducing the number of young people not in education, employment and training.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN WALES

Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales, has commended the launch of a new State of the Nation report on the well-being of children and young people in Wales, released by the Welsh Assembly Government.

CHILDREN’S TRUSTS

The DCSF has announced that it will be introducing new legislation to ensure that multi-agency Children’s Trusts Boards are operating in every local authority area. The Boards will consist of the local authority, health, police, schools and other services who will be legally required to work together to agree and deliver a Children and Young People’s Plan.

The DCSF has also published new guidance on Children’s Trusts. The guidance takes into account the revised 2008 statutory guidance for local authorities and agencies on the ‘duty to cooperate’ to improve children’s well-being. Alongside this guidance is a short leaflet which contains a simplified explanation of what a Children’s Trust is for and what it does.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

The DCSF is consulting on new statutory guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the Director of Children’s Services and Lead Member for Children’s Services. The guidance aims to explain how the roles of the LM and DCS are distinct and complementary - and how working together as a team, they can be most effective in improving outcomes for children and young people. The deadline to respond is 10 February 2009.

BIG LOTTERY FUND

The Big Lottery Fund is consulting on its strategic framework for 2009 onwards. The consultation is open to all organisations and individuals to feed in suggestions for funding policies for the future. The deadline to respond is 27 February 2009.

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Sex and Relationships Education

Responding to a parliamentary question on sex and relationships education by Dr John Pugh, Schools Minister Jim Knight stressed the importance of teaching SRE within a moral framework, and with an emphasis on relationships. He also confirmed that it will remain compulsory for young people to learn about HIV/AIDS.

Sports and Arts Participation

During a debate on young people’s participation in sports and the arts, DCSF Under-Secretary of State Sarah McCarthy-Fry confirmed that the government is investing £332 million to 2011 specifically to increase musical participation, and that the ‘Find Your Talent’ programme will trial ways of providing five hours of arts and cultural experiences in and out of school.