Archived press release

Date Published: 03/07/07

Aylesbury Vale District Council has agreed a wide-ranging plan to ensure that the council’s services for young people continue to improve. Increasing and improving facilities, encouraging young people to get involved in the council’s ...

Aylesbury Vale District Council has agreed a wide-ranging plan to ensure that the council’s services for young people continue to improve.

Increasing and improving facilities, encouraging young people to get involved in the council’s decision making process and ensuring they are aware of the services provided locally are just three of the priorities set out in the Young People’s Services Improvement Plan.

The document also highlights the council’s commitment to increasing the number of young people taking part in activities during school holidays, focusing services on young people who are at risk of offending and encouraging more people aged 16 and under to participate in sport and leisure activities.

The action plan, which outlines AVDC’s priorities for young people for the next 12 months, was approved by the council’s cabinet on 26 June. Key elements of the plan include:
• Establishing Local Youth Advisory Panels (LYAPs) and a district youth cabinet to make sure young people are involved in the local decision making process
• Improving and increasing facilities for young people in areas identified as crime hot spots
• Supporting the development of youth cafes in Quarrendon and Elm Farm in Aylesbury
• Developing and promoting sports and arts activities for people with disabilities aged 16 and under
• Examining the feasibility of introducing a mobile phone text system to promote services to young people

The council’s first young people’s improvement plan was developed in 2005 following an inspection by the Audit Commission. The judgement of the inspectors was that AVDC’s services for young people were fair but had promising prospects for improvement.

AVDC has done a lot to improve its services for young people since the inspectors report was published, such as providing a mobile skate park in different locations across the district, opening a new multi-use sports area in Aylesbury’s Vale Park, developing the ‘Teenzone’ web pages for young people on the council’s website and supporting the development of youth cafes in Aylesbury town centre and Walton Court. The latest improvement plan has been drawn up to build on this progress and ensure that all young people in the district have improved services that meet their needs.

Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “The council takes provision of young people’s services very seriously and we are committed to doing our best to continually improve them. We want to ensure that every young person gets the services they need, to ensure they are safe, healthy and have enough to do in the local area. This is an evolving process and we’re looking forward to working with young people and local agencies as we take this plan forward.”

The cabinet will receive an update on proposals in six months time. In the meantime copies of the plan can be seen at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or can be requested by calling 01296 585224.