Agenda item

To discuss with invited guests the current provision in terms of type of support and ages, and to identify areas where there are currently gaps and areas of need.

Members received a verbal update from the Chair outlining the Town Council’s previous decision to identify gaps in support for varying age ranges of children in Witney, and to financially assist organisations in providing specialist services by way of grant funding.

The Community Wellbeing Manager from West Oxfordshire District Council had provided the beginnings of a youth mapping document and it was reiterated that there were no youth drop-ins available which was a concern. Members heard that funding was still available for youth crisis support and there was agreement that the Town Council funding may be more beneficial in supporting hard to reach groups and for offering discretionary benefits to young people. It was important to understand what had happened to get to this point, for example lack of other services, activities and venue space.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Working Party continues to identify gaps in provision and consolidates the mapping document already started.