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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme set out in report COGC/77/26 be agreed.
AGREED – (i) That the Committee notes the positive outcomes and significant levels of engagement achieved through the Youth Work Offer, including the work carried out within schools. (ii) To thank and congratulate Skylar Austin for attending and contributing to the discussion at the meeting. (iii) To recommend that Community Councils be contacted as part of the development of the Youth Work Strategy with a view to securing funding. (iv) To recommend that Officers explore opportunities to improve awareness and accessibility of youth work provision.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Dana Davies and Tina Mannering.
AGREED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 July 2026 be signed as a correct record.
Members were reminded of their responsibility under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct to declare any interests in relation to the business to be transacted at the meeting. The following declaration was made: Councillor Andy Gallanders. Agenda Item 4 – Work Programme Personal Interest - as the Councillor worked with members of the support staff at the Senate he was therefore privy to personal or privileged information (reference the letter from the Minister). The Councillor remained in the meeting taking part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme set out in report COGC/77/26 be agreed.
The Chief Officer for Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/77/26) to consider the work programme of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Facilitator presented the proposed Work Programme and highlighted the inclusion of reports on the Youth Work Offer, the Estyn Inspection Profile and the five-year Youth Work Strategy. Members noted the response from the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language regarding ALN consequential funding and that a further letter signed by this Committee Chair and the Chair of Customers Performance Resources & Governance had been sent that day. AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme set out in report COGC/77/26 be agreed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the Committee notes the positive outcomes and significant levels of engagement achieved through the Youth Work Offer, including the work carried out within schools. (ii) To thank and congratulate Skylar Austin for attending and contributing to the discussion at the meeting. (iii) To recommend that Community Councils be contacted as part of the development of the Youth Work Strategy with a view to securing funding. (iv) To recommend that Officers explore opportunities to improve awareness and accessibility of youth work provision.
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COEEI/16/26s) updating the Committee on the current Youth Work Offer in Wrexham, including the development of the Youth Work Strategic Plan 2027-2032. Officers advised that youth work formed a key part of the Council's early help and prevention offer, supported by Council and external funding, and confirmed that the draft strategy would be presented to the Committee in November. Youth service staff outlined the range of provision available across Wrexham, including community youth clubs, school-based support, youth participation activities, transition programmes, targeted interventions and accredited learning opportunities. A young person also shared their positive experience of accessing youth services and the support received. The following matters were highlighted during discussion: • Members welcomed the contribution from the young person and recognised the positive impact youth services had on young people's confidence, wellbeing and personal development. • Officers advised that community council funding played an important role in supporting local youth provision. It was confirmed that the Youth Work Strategic Plan would review community coverage, funding arrangements and equitable access to services across the County Borough. • Regarding the measurement of the Youth Service Offer's impact, officers advised that performance was assessed through wellbeing assessments, participation levels, accredited achievements, confidence and resilience indicators, service-user feedback and case studies. Whilst educational and employment outcomes remained important, wellbeing was identified as a key measure of success. Further work was being undertaken to strengthen understanding of longer-term outcomes. • Members requested the use of anonymised case studies in future reports to provide additional context regarding the impact of youth work interventions. • Officers explained that the Windscreen Model of intervention provided a framework ranging from universal preventative services available to all young people through to targeted and specialist support for those with more complex needs. • Regarding the distribution and funding of youth provision across the County Borough, officers advised that the service had moved away from a solely building-based model to a more flexible hub, outreach and detached youth work approach, enabling services to reach young people in communities where they were most likely to engage. • Officers confirmed that participation data was collected across all services, enabling the Authority to monitor engagement levels, identify gaps in provision and review service delivery where required. • Officers acknowledged increasing levels of complexity amongst young people, including emotional wellbeing and behavioural challenges. Whilst resource pressures remained, skilled staff continued to work proactively with vulnerable and hard-to-reach young people, supported by effective partnership working with other agencies. • Access to timely mental health support was identified as a key challenge. Officers highlighted the importance of partnership working between youth services, education, health and other agencies to ensure young people received support from the most appropriate service at the earliest opportunity. • Members noted the contribution of the Youth Justice Service in supporting vulnerable young people and helping to prevent future offending behaviour. • Officers reported that options were being explored for a mobile youth provision vehicle to improve access to youth services in communities where a permanent youth club may not be viable. • Discussion highlighted that whilst it was not feasible to provide youth provision in every community, the service continued to deliver youth work through a combination of community venues, hubs, detached provision and outreach activities. • Officers noted that young people frequently accessed provision outside their immediate communities and often travelled to attend activities with friendship groups. • The value of partnership working with third-sector organisations and community councils was highlighted. Officers advised that the development of the Youth Work Strategic Plan provided an opportunity to review future delivery models, identify gaps in provision and explore opportunities to attract additional funding to further develop the Youth Work Offer. • Members recognised the positive outcomes achieved through school-based youth work and the wider Youth Service Offer. Officers outlined the continued success of the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme and confirmed that support was available to ensure that financial barriers did not prevent young people from participating. • Concerning accessibility of services across the County Borough, officers confirmed that participation and engagement data was monitored and that community access, service coverage and any gaps in provision would be considered as part of the forthcoming Youth Work Strategic Plan. • Members requested that information regarding available youth provision be circulated to elected Members and encouraged continued engagement with community councils to raise awareness of services and funding opportunities. AGREED – (i) That the Committee notes the positive outcomes and significant levels of engagement achieved through the Youth Work Offer, including the work carried out within schools. (ii) To thank and congratulate Skylar Austin for attending and contributing to the discussion at the meeting. (iii) To recommend that Community Councils be contacted as part of the development of the Youth Work Strategy with a view to securing funding. (iv) To recommend that Officers explore opportunities to improve awareness and accessibility of youth work provision.
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