Youth Service celebrates series of awards - 01/02/07
Innovative work undertaken by the Vale of Glamorgan Youth
Service across the area has been recognised through a range of
national and local awards.
The service, which is delivered by a team of 10 full time and 83
part time staff across the county, offers a range of social and
informational education opportunities to young people especially
those in the 13 to 19 years age group.
Recognised by the Welsh Assembly Government's Education and
Training Standards Committee as having a quality curriculum and
staff development policy, the Vale service has also been praised
for its work with young people by Canllaw Online, a charity which
develops and supports information services for youngsters.
Its work has also been selected for awards by meda4communities
and within the Vale Council – judged by an independent panel – and
by the Wales Youth Agency for its "How to Manage" girls' group
project which supports young women at risk of offending.
The service works with 22 per cent of young people in the 11 to
25 year age group in the Vale, and Principal Youth Officer Bob
Fussell commented: "We are delighted that there has been
recognition on a number of fronts of the wide range of good work we
are undertaking across the area.
"Working in partnership with other services and organisations,
we are continuing to develop learning opportunities and information
resources for youngsters and groups, and are delighted with a
customer satisfaction rate of 94 per cent compared to a national
figure of 85 per cent.
"We are acutely aware that we must respond positively to the
ever changing needs of young people and that they must take a major
role in developing the opportunities provided."
The service runs a successful annual awards night which
celebrates the achievements of more than 150 local youngsters, and
was very proud that Llantwit Major Youth Centre member Stephen
Coombes won a nationwide award for voluntary endeavour.
The service is also involved in a series of other initiatives
such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme; an MTV-style resource
for young people on substance misuse in conjunction with VIBE; the
publication of Youth Base, a young people's magazine; the
introduction of a young disabled referral process at Area 41
(Barry); a "Prison-me-no-way" project; a project offering safe sex
advice and support; the Romance Ac admey; a project offering
instruction on the safe use of mini-buses; developing a music
studio at Llantwit in partnership with Major Music, and developing
a young firefighters' project at Llantwit Fire Station.