Changes to Community Youth Work Service In Elmbridge

There is less money available for Services for Young People overall. This means we need to find ways of delivering youth work that make the most of the money we have. We want to use the money we have for youth work to make the biggest difference to young people. In particular, this means helping them to prepare for work and their adult life. To do this we need to divide the money we have between different parts of Surrey fairly to make sure that the young people who need support the most get it. We want to find out what you think about our plans and your ideas of how we can do things better.

The key findings from the consultation were:

• There was disappointment that the council’s staffing resources were being withdrawn from current projects in Claygate especially (86% of responses) but also Weybridge (8% of responses). Residents of both venues cited historical reasons and improvements that the youth centres should be staffed by the county council.
• Claygate residents raised concerns that the plans would provoke an increase in anti-social behaviour and a rise in the needs of young people. It was also said that those with current high needs would be neglected in favour of young people from other areas.
• There was concern that young people would be affected by staff moving around and new organisations coming in to run community spokes.
• Field common was regarded an unnecessary place for a detached project. It was pointed out that Hersham youth club is close enough to walk to, and many young people currently do.
• There should be an increase of sports and art projects.

Whilst we may not have always been able to fully address every concern, we have listened and propose the following amendments in response to feedback:

• It should be re-emphasised that it is not the plan to close either Claygate or Weybridge youth centres. In both Claygate and Weybridge discussions are ongoing about a transition to becoming a community spoke. The county council’s CYWS will maintain staff at both centres until a successful transition has been made. After transition support will continue with training, safeguarding, material resources and maintenance. We will also work closely with the local prevention services provided by Lifetrain, Eikon and Surrey care trust to work with the highest need people in more targeted work in Claygate and Weybridge.
• The idea of a Field common detached project from the original plans has been scrapped in favour of working closer with the Local Prevention providers to promote Hersham, Walton and Molesey youth clubs with their outreach project.
• The CYWS will plan to run borough-wide projects in the holiday periods, incorporating trips, residentials and one-off day sports and art projects across all the venues.