Support for a Local Youth Forum

The request was successful.

Dear Argyll and Bute Council,

Please accept the following request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, which relates to the local authority’s support for a local youth forum.

In this context, I define a local youth forum as a “group led by young people (aged 12-26) which aims to understand and advocate for young people’s views within the local area in which they are based”. They may variably be referred to as a ‘Youth Council’. ‘Youth Parliament’, ‘Youth Cabinet’ or ‘Youth Forum’. Specifically, this request relates to local youth forums which have a remit of the entirety of the local authority area, and does not refer to youth participatory initiatives that relate to schools or colleges, smaller subsets of the whole local authority area, or to single demographics of young people.

Would the statement “The local authority supports a local youth forum.” be factually correct to apply to the local authority?

If so, which of the following statements would be factually correct to apply to the local authority? Please respond to each in turn:

“Young people are elected to the local youth forum through a transparent recruitment and election process.”

“The local youth forum regularly consults with young people in its area (outside of its membership), in order to inform its priorities and activities.”

“The local youth forum outlines and publicises its priorities and commitments on a regular basis, which are developed by its members and in consultation with young people in its area (outside of its membership).”

“The local youth forum has an active website and social media presence, regularly updated with its priorities and opportunities for young people to engage with it.”

“The local youth forum’s value and impact are recognised by stakeholders (such as schools and colleges), and support it where appropriate in its work.”

“The local youth forum has a terms of reference or constitution, which outline its independence and autonomy from the local authority.”

“The local youth forum is responsible for managing its budget, and can generate and apply for additional income from outside the local authority.”

“The local youth forum’s activities are accessible to all young people, with a strategy in place to ensure this.”

“The local youth forum regularly reviews the composition of its membership in relation to the demographics of young people in its area, and has a strategy to engage currently underrepresented groups.”

“The local youth forum as an initiative is supported by relevant elected representatives and officers, who take an active interest in its work and proactively seek to co-operate.”

“The local youth forum is supported by a dedicated employee, with either experience in youth participation or the capacity to improve their competency over time.”

“The local youth forum and the local authority have established criteria for ensuring the settings and methods in which they engage are enabling for young people to participate.”

“The local youth forum is invited to participate in all relevant activities of the local authority, and the expected scope and limits of the local youth forum’s involvement from the point of view of the local authority are clearly outlined.”

“The local youth forum is part of a structured process in which recommendations are given serious consideration by the local authority. Where recommendations are not implemented, the local authority provides a written explanation of the reasons for the decisions made.”

“The local youth forum and the local authority conduct regular evaluations to assess the impact and effectiveness of the local youth forum.”

Kind regards,
Huw Sherrard FRSA

Administrator,


Dear Huw Sherrard

Request for information: Support for Local Youth Forums

Thank you for your information request which we have logged as reference
argyllbuteir:11695.

It has been passed to the relevant service(s) for attention and you should
receive a response under either the Freedom of Information (Scot) Act 2002
or the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 by 2020-07-28
00:00:00. We hope to respond within this timescale but, due to the
staffing/capacity issues with COVID-19, some requests may take little
longer.

Please quote the reference number above in any correspondence you may have
with the Council in regard to this request.

Regards

FOI Officer

Privacy information: Any personal information you have provided in
relation to this request will be used only for the intended purpose -
please read the full privacy notice to find out more about how your
personal information will be handled, and your rights under data
protection legislation.

McGinty, Alison, Argyll and Bute Council

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Classification: OFFICIAL

Dear Huw Sherrard

 

Request for information: Support for Local Youth Forums

Reference: argyllbuteir:11695.

 

I refer to your request for information which was dealt with in terms of
the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

 

I have include the following information in fulfilment of your request:

 

Would the statement “The local authority supports a local youth forum.” be
factually correct to apply to the local authority?

Yes

 

If so, which of the following statements would be factually correct to
apply to the local authority? Please respond to each in turn:

 

“Young people are elected to the local youth forum through a transparent
recruitment and election process.”

Correct

 

“The local youth forum regularly consults with young people in its area
(outside of its membership), in order to inform its priorities and
activities.”

Correct but there are plans to improve on the effectiveness of this.

 

“The local youth forum outlines and publicises its priorities and
commitments on a regular basis, which are developed by its members and in
consultation with young people in its area (outside of its membership).”

No, not on a regular basis.

 

“The local youth forum has an active website and social media presence,
regularly updated with its priorities and opportunities for young people
to engage with it.”

Correct

 

“The local youth forum’s value and impact are recognised by stakeholders
(such as schools and colleges), and support it where appropriate in its
work.”

Correct but more work required

 

“The local youth forum has a terms of reference or constitution, which
outline its independence and autonomy from the local authority.”

Correct

 

“The local youth forum is responsible for managing its budget, and can
generate and apply for additional income from outside the local
authority.”

Correct

 

“The local youth forum’s activities are accessible to all young people,
with a strategy in place to ensure this.”

Currently reviewing Youth Forum structures and this will feature as part
of the review.

 

“The local youth forum regularly reviews the composition of its membership
in relation to the demographics of young people in its area, and has a
strategy to engage currently underrepresented groups.”

No

 

“The local youth forum as an initiative is supported by relevant elected
representatives and officers, who take an active interest in its work and
proactively seek to co-operate.”

Correct

 

“The local youth forum is supported by a dedicated employee, with either
experience in youth participation or the capacity to improve their
competency over time.”

All our Youth Forums are supported by CLD qualified workers.

 

“The local youth forum and the local authority have established criteria
for ensuring the settings and methods in which they engage are enabling
for young people to participate.”

No

 

“The local youth forum is invited to participate in all relevant
activities of the local authority, and the expected scope and limits of
the local youth forum’s involvement from the point of view of the local
authority are clearly outlined.”

No

 

“The local youth forum is part of a structured process in which
recommendations are given serious consideration by the local authority.
Where recommendations are not implemented, the local authority provides a
written explanation of the reasons for the decisions made.”

No – Youth Forums have been involved in a range of consultations but
feedback is inconsistent.

 

“The local youth forum and the local authority conduct regular evaluations
to assess the impact and effectiveness of the local youth forum.”

A major review of Youth Forums in Argyll and Bute is underway with the aim
of restructuring and improving their performance.  Young people are at the
centre of the review, which will also develop their input to CLD service
planning.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request for information
has been dealt with you are entitled to request a review by writing to the
Executive Director Customer Services, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory,
Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8RT, or by email to [1][Argyll and Bute Council request email].

 

Your request for review must state your name and address for
correspondence, specify the request for information to which your request
for review relates and why you are dissatisfied with the response. 

 

You must make your request for review not later than 40 working days after
the expiry of the 20 working day period for response to your initial
request by the Council, or not later than 40 working days after the
receipt by you of the information provided, any fees notice issued or any
notification of refusal or partial refusal.

 

If you make an application for review and remain dissatisfied with the way
in which the review has been dealt with you are entitled to make an
application to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9DS (Tel: 01334 464610) for a
further review. You can now do this online here -  
[2]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.

 

You must make representation to the Scottish Information Commissioner no
later than 6 months after the date of receipt by you of the notice or
decision you are dissatisfied with or within 6 months of the expiry of the
period of 20 working days from receipt by the Council of your request for
review.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Alison McGinty

Assistant Compliance & Regulatory Officer

Legal and Regulatory Support

Argyll and Bute Council

Kilmory

Lochgilphead

PA31 8RT

 

01546 604057

 
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