Issue - meetings

[To approve setting up a Youth Hub in partnership with Job Centre Plus to support unemployed young people aged 16-24 years old at The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton City Centre]

1.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration to:

a.      Approve the Council entering into the required grant agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to set up the Youth Employment Hub at the Way in Wolverhampton to support young people aged 16-24 years old into employment and training opportunities.

b.      Approve the creation of the necessary supplementary revenue budgets to deliver the project.

c.      Approve the Council entering into any agreements necessary for it to manage the Hub at the Way.

2.     That it be noted that the Black Country Impact (Wolverhampton) team would be required to support the Youth Hub with key workers and progression staff employed by the Council.  Black Country Impact had received an extension and would continue to support unemployed young people until 2023.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre presented the report that sought delegated authority to receive grants from the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWPs) Flexible Support Fund to set up, manage and deliver the Youth Hub at The Way in Wolverhampton. He informed Cabinet that the proposal represented another example of the close working relationship that the Local Authority had developed with the DWP, the Local Enterprise Partnership and other agencies.  The Hub would work as a sign posting operation for young people to ensure, as they move from being not in education, employment or training, that they are signposted to the right range of services available to them in the city.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration to:

a.      Approve the Council entering into the required grant agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to set up the Youth Employment Hub at the Way in Wolverhampton to support young people aged 16-24 years old into employment and training opportunities.

b.      Approve the creation of the necessary supplementary revenue budgets to deliver the project.

c.      Approve the Council entering into any agreements necessary for it to manage the Hub at the Way.

2.    That it be noted that the Black Country Impact (Wolverhampton) team would be required to support the Youth Hub with key workers and progression staff employed by the Council.  Black Country Impact had received an extension and would continue to support unemployed young people until 2023.