Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services

Youth sufficiency mapping: Staffordshire County Council Staffordshire County Council procured spatial insight software to map a summary of services which support children and young people.

It is great to see our strategic partner relationship with
Staffordshire County Council highlighted in this
@local.gov.uk case study.

Just one small example of impact from our collaborative work supporting children, young people and families together.

www.local.gov.uk/case-studies...

If you know someone aged between 11 and 30 ask them to fill out the Youth Voice Census. Every voice matters!

survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90814524/...

Here is our May Member Spotlight on Burton Hope

🌟 Youth Workers in the Midlands! 🌟
We invite you and the young people you support to join us & your 16–21s (incl. SEND) for the Birmingham Hack on April 26, 10:00–12:30 at The Factory, Longbridge.
Help shape the National Youth Strategy— bit.ly/44rNgdf
#BirminghamHack #YouthVoice @iwill_movement

A single ripple of kindness can create waves of change

From one act of kindness, a sea of change can arise. #CYPMHParticipation #childrenandfamilies #mpft #WellnessWednesday

April's Member Spotlight focuses on Cheslyn Hay Table Tennis Club who create a safe and enjoyable space for many young people which builds trusted relationships and promotes personal and social development

1 of 200+ members regularly supporting over 50,000 children and young people in Staffordshire

Constructive meeting @sarahedwardsmp.bsky.social & her team this week to talk support for young people, national youth strategy, community cohesion and more.

Brilliant too to catch up with Alfie, former youth union member, now parliamentary assistant, and see his passion for youth voice remains.

Appeal launched for volunteers to help at "cherished" Burntwood community facility - Lichfield Live® An appeal has been launched for volunteers to help run a "cherished" community asset.

Appeal launched for volunteers to help at “cherished” Burntwood community facility

We're so pleased to be faciliating this network alongside a steering group of great young people, the University of Staffordshire & Staffordshire County Council.

Desired change includes better decision-making, research academia more connected to communities and life for all improved.

#bigdreams

The gov has published the consultation for their new Youth Strategy 📣

The strategy will explore how to support young people and ensure that every young person can thrive.

The consultation is open to all young people aged 10-21 (25 for SEND) #Whatsyourorder

www.iwill.org.uk/NYS-Deliver-...

Our March Member Spotlight is on a locally based organisation giving opportunity to those living with disabilities and making a real difference to health and well-being.

They are celebrating 50 years of impact.

Our 4 elected Members of Youth Parliament arrived in London yesterday to attend the annual UK Youth Parliament sitting!

Wishing them well today as they represent Staffordshire, debate topics set out in the UK Youth Parliament Manifesto 2024-2025

Go Emily, Caitlyn, Ollie and Tom

Our new report focuses on disproportionality in the youth justice system, particularly for Black children. They make up 6% of the population but account for 28% of those in youth custody. Download our report where we outline 5 recommendations for the government.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/4hDmkv1

Good news, thank you.

We tried this with our local procurement team who promised us a VCSE support tool last summer. We're still waiting!

Also the identified "optional" questions which commissioners subsequently tried to remove have proved to be not so optional.

Let us know if we can help!

Are you a Christian youth worker wanting to help your youth navigate questions about relationships & sex? Why not join us in Feb for our #RSE Fullness course & get equipped to tackle those tricky topics. https://acet-uk.com/training #YouthWork

Giving by UK’s richest failing to keep pace with public donations High net worth individuals in the UK are giving a far smaller proportion of their fortune to good causes than the wider public do.

High net worth individuals in the UK give a far smaller proportion of their fortune to good causes than the wider public do.

www.charitytimes.com/ct/Giving-by...

Good to hear

Still need adjustments to the one-size-fits-all policy often adopted by local procurement

One said recently:

"Our system treats every organisation the same, as if they're Starbucks or any other international corporation!"

A huge barrier to local orgs wanting to play their part!

"Positive things to do, safe places to go, opportunities to make a contribution supported by trusted adults"

Young people/research have been telling us this is what's needed and what works for 20+ years

Why do we keep looking for a different "silver bullet" despite knowing the investment required?

Today is Safer Internet Day, a moment for us all to pause & reflect on how safe our online behaviours are in protecting us from harm whether that be physical, emotional, financial, etc. and also to support those we may have responsibility for such as children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Great opportunity to give young people a voice.

Any local young people who are interested in supporting this, follow the links, and get in touch to let us know what you've done as there are local opportunities to sustain this kind of opportunity and we'd love to have you involved.

As we enter February, we are delighted to shine a light on another one of our amazing member organisations doing wonderful work to build communication / team work skills and confidence in local young people.
⬇️⬇️⬇️

Agreed !

Our often repeated mantra for young people is;

➡️More safe spaces to go
➡️More positive/exciting things to do
➡️More trusted adults to talk with
➡️More opportunities, roles and responsibilities on offer

All of which equals more investment to help our children and young people thrive!

Thank You! We're delighted to be here & keen to build up our local, regional & national connections.

We are focused on support for children, young people and families, youth voice and helping our vibrant local voluntary sector access everything it needs to be strong, safe and sustainable.

Agreed
We've a thriving network of voluntary organisations providing hope / relationship, but lack that systematic early response support for schools/colleges to access that helps to support young people to get back on track for their own aspirations. Probably because it requires system investment

So much of this ⬇️ resonates with what young people have been telling us.

➡️ We now host the PSHE Education Service locally, improving connections between formal and informal education.
➡️ Our members support 50,000 children and young people annually with safe, positive activities.

#stopexclusions

We're excited to be leading the Know Your Place network here in Staffordshire, putting young people in the driving seat of community research & supporting them to present findings to local decision-makers & academics.

Our partners include University of Staffordshire & Staffordshire County Council

🌟Join Us for a Winter Warmer Community Event🌟

📍 Tamworth Assembly Rooms
🗓 Tomorrow and Thursday
⏰ 12pm – 2pm

Delicious homemade food, a warm space, and great company

And the best part? It’s completely FREE

We’d love to see you there, bring a friend! 💙

#CommunityTogether #WinterWarmer #Tamworth

Definitely relate to this thread, although having been in #youthwork for 36 years, I can honestly say it is a most rewarding working life

I can see so many young people I have had the privilege of working with going on to do amazing things, changing the world in big and small ways, everyday! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

We have heard this time and again from local young people, hence we started the Know Your Place network which aims to give young people a voice through participatory research in their communities, and support them to take their findings to decision-makers and academia to bring about sustained change

SCVYS exists to support our members and improve the lives of children, young people and families in Staffordshire

We help organisations to be strong, safe and sustainable, enabling 50,000 children and young people to participate in regular positive activities

Give us a follow if this resonates