To further develop the Children and Young                
People’s Voluntary & Community Sector Service

Deliverers Network Event

36 people working with children and young people attended this event to raise awareness of the developing Children and Young People’s Network (a sub group of the Luton Assembly).  Development of the Network is the local response through the Workforce Strategy Partnership Programme to the national Every Child Matters Agenda.  The programme aims to improve the voluntary/community sector’s involvement in the children’s workforce strategies and action plans.  On a local level the network will facilitate the engagement of the sector with the strategic bodies that are making the policies that affect children and young people and the organisations that work with them.

Participants were treated to presentations explaining the programme and an example of a working model in Bedford called the Voluntary Organisations Consortium (VOC).  They were also given the preliminary findings to the recently conducted SET survey.

It was a very successful day.  There was a general buzz around the venue and 7 participants expressed an interest in becoming involved in the steering group. 

Unfortunately we do not have the results of the “find me a name competition”, as the steering group who will be choosing the winner have not yet met.  They are due to meet mid April and a winner will be announced shortly after that meeting.

 

Children and Young Peoples Network

 

A key priority for Luton is building on and strengthening engagement with the voluntary sector for delivering better outcomes for children and young people.

In order to drive this work forward, Voluntary Action Luton (VAL) is establishing a new Children And Young People’s Service Provider Network. The network will be for all voluntary and community sector children's service providers ranging from universal and early preventative services to specialist service providers up to 19 years and 25 years for those working with young people with disabilities.

The aim of the network is to provide a forum so that all issues relating to the sector have a formal point of contact. The group will:

· Provide opportunities to network and share information
· Provide a cohesive voice to shape strategic planning
· Be a consultation forum
· Support building the capacity of the sector through the organisation and provision of training opportunities.

A full time officer who will be based in VAL will support the network.

We will keep you updated through this newsletter of developments. But if you would like any further information please contact Lorna Brown on 01582 733418