New youth workers will provide vital services across several communities
MORE than £200,000 will be pumped into providing new youth workers who will operate over a string of communities for the next two years.
The move will provide much-needed support for young people in communities including Hoyland, Elsecar, Wombwell, Darfield and surrounding areas.
Services will be provided by the BYouth team, Barnsley Council’s new youth services team and will build on other developments which have already seen a team of youth workers move into Dearne Astrea Academy for a two year pilot, as well as the flagship Youth Zone in the town centre, which recently opened.
The two new youth workers will also operate on a pilot scheme basis and are being funded by the South Area Council, a local arm of Barnsley Council which has cash to spend on services important to communities in the area.
No decisions have yet been made on where the workers will be based, but Barnsley Council has suitable venues in Hoyland and Wombwell - with other options also on the table.
The remit of the new workers will include ‘detached’ duties, going out to work with young people, rather than just running traditional youth club facilities.
In addition to paying workers’ salaries, the budget provides cash to organise activities in each of the two years - providing opportunities for meaningful additions to what is available locally for children and young people.
BYouth will work with the South Area Council on delivering the service - ensuring activities are tailored to meet the specific needs of the areas involved.
The work fits into Barnsley Council’s wider commitment to upcoming generations, through its Childhood Ambitions programme.
An aim of the new work is to provide safe spaces for young people, where they have access to people they know they can trust.
Elements of the scheme will include one-to-one mentoring for those who would benefit, with targeted work to help those facing emotional, behavioural or educational challenges.
The work will be monitored, with the results helping to guide the future of BYouth work.
Cllr Mick Stowe, who services on South Area Council, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to reach their aspirations.”
The BYouth work will acknowledge the issues young people face as they transition towards adulthood, covering issues including mental health, sexuality, drug and alcohol misuse and contraception.