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5. Improving Facilities
5.1 One of the key challenges respondents believe face the youth work sector in the 21st century is the accessibility and availability of good quality youth work facilities. The problem appears not just to be a lack of premises, but that suitable existing premises are not always accessible for young people and their youth workers at the times they need them. Schools in particular were mentioned as difficult to access out-of-hours, despite offering premises already designed with young people in mind. The cost of opening up existing facilities to young people when and where they need them must be a priority for local authorities and others and must often be more cost effective than providing new premises for youth work. There will, of course, also be situations where purpose-built new facilities are relevant, perhaps serving a variety of groups and uses. In developing new facilities it is expected that the principles of sustainable development are taken into account, particularly in the application of sustainable design principles.
5.2 The strategy has already discussed the benefits of national voluntary organisations sharing facilities and we believe this is also relevant locally. Other capital-rich organisations such as the Scottish Youth Hostel network are also well placed to offer accommodation and facilities for youth work provision, not only residential. And, where local youth work networks are piloted, these will also have a role to play in identifying suitable local facilities and securing their use for young people where appropriate. There are of course many excellent facilities including sports, arts, music and theatre venues and centres designed for and by young people where they can genuinely feel ownership of the space. Making the best use of all these facilities, making them affordable for youth groups to use and opening them up to a wide range of young users, is particularly important.
5.3 In the spirit of 'Getting It Right For Every Child' and our NEET Strategy, 'More Choices, More Chances', we expect all those with responsibility for providing and funding youth work provision to do what they can to make existing facilities available where this is in the best interests of young people locally. The cost of opening premises rarely outweighs the benefit to the young people using them and we would encourage those in charge not to let opportunities fall due to lack of accommodation where suitable accommodation exists. This applies not just to schools but also to sports facilities, art and drama centres or church halls which may be suitable for youth work provision.
5.4 We are keen to support the upgrading of youth work facilities for young people, particularly where the groups using them have limited funds and few alternative sources of support, and where support will clearly lead to significant positive outcomes for more young people.
5.5 In 2006-2007 the Executive provided £2.5m for a Youth Work Capital Fund which resulted in 259 awards of up to £50,000 to improve facilities and buy new equipment and vehicles for youth groups and organisations in all parts of Scotland. We are pleased to be able to offer during the Year of Action on youth work an increased fund for2007-2008 which will be available from the start of the financial year to encourage larger-scale bids for refurbishment or improvement.
The Outcome we want:
For youth groups and organisations to be able to bid for capital grants which enable them to directly enhance opportunities and outcomes for the young people who use their facilities.
The Action we propose:
- Through the Year of Action on youth work we will ask YouthLink to administer a Youth Work Facilities Improvement Fund of £5m for 2007-2008. The funds will be available from 1 April 2007 with the capital works completed by 31 March 2008. Bidders must be able to demonstrate that funding will leadto positive outcomes for young people and particular weighting should be given to bids to improve facilities and premises for vulnerable young people or in areas of deprivation. Where appropriate, bids will also be expected to reflect that the principles of sustainable development have been taken into account, particularly in the application of sustainable design principles.
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