Agenda item

Prior to this Working Party being established Cllrs Luci Ashbourne and Joy Aitman along with the Town Clerk have had various meetings with Aspire, Got2b and WODC – Heather McCulloch – to receive a verbal report.

Cllrs Ashbourne and Aitman provided an update on progress so far, with the Events and Communications Officer explaining what had happened at the Youth Forum, prior to this meeting.    This had led to the proposed terms of reference.

Cllr Aitman had met with Got2B which was a fledgling youth worker project.  It would be applying for OCC funding which would be split between Carterton and Witney.  Currently the project was successfully running a Youth Café at The Coffee Shed on The Leys.  The project was backed by Ruskin College, which had offered to send some of its youth work students along on placement.  Cllr Ashby said that the scouts were hoping that Got2B would be able to speak to them by April.

The Chair had met with Lyndsey from Aspire, which works with 17 -21-year olds who have been out of education for at least 6 months. Aspire doesn’t have a drop-in centre, making it hard to reach people. They had considered using the Corn Exchange but they needed privacy.

The Chair had met also met with Heather McCoulloch, Healthy Communities Manager at WODC, who felt the Working Party should have a 0 – 21-year focus with ages grouped together e.g. 0 – 2, 3 – 5 etc.  There was a big gap in provision for 11 – 15-year olds.

Cllr Aitman had also met with Homestart, who ran an open playgroup but also one for young mums and dads.  Early intervention was important.  She added that Cllr Andrew Beeny at WODC was the new Youth Champion.

RECOMMENDED:  that the update be noted.