City council to announce £2m youth fund

Manchester City Council is to announce how it will spend its £2 million Youth Fund.

The fund, part of the City Council's new approach to providing activities for young people in the city which is set out in its Valuing Young People strategy, will be used to commission high quality activities for young people across the city.

Bids from voluntary sector organisations across the city wanting to deliver youth activities - ranging from sports and arts sessions to literacy, numeracy and job application support - have been received and are currently being assessed.

The Valuing Young People Strategy states that every young person in the city must have the opportunity to achieve their full potential - benefiting from and contributing to the prosperity of the city.

And it says that young people, particularly the most vulnerable, should have access to the activities and support they need, and have a strong voice in shaping those services.

The vision was set out after a three-month consultation with more than 1,000 young people and their parents which took place between April and July.

Manchester young people Rebecca Tighe and Ashley Macfarlane gave up hours of their own time to be closely involved with the assessment process. Rebecca said: "If you are choosing how to spend money for young people, young people should be involved. I found it encouraging knowing that young people haven't been forgotten."

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for arts and leisure, said: "The purpose of the fund is to ensure that vulnerable young people aged 13-19 have access to positive recreational and educational activities which will build their confidence and help them become more independent.

"We firmly believe that by taking a more integrated and targeted approach to youth services we, and partner organisations, can work together to ensure a better overall service and better opportunities for our young people despite depleted financial resources.

"We need to make sure every pound we spend makes the maximum difference and I look forward to announcing how our Youth Fund will be spent."

Beyond the fund, other activities will be provided by the Council's Children's Services and Neighbourhood Services departments which are working much more closely together to provide sport and leisure opportunities for all of the city's young people.

The Council will also work with and influence providers and potential providers - such as schools, colleges and the voluntary, faith and independent sectors - of 'universal' services to ensure more high quality activities and other support.