c a m b r i d g e workshop 4 mark blake

Mark Blake- Head of Policy

Commissioning & the Voluntary & Community Sector

• Greater involvement of the VCS in service delivery particularly targeting disadvantaged young people

• Young people led commissioning processes

• Investment in places to go for local areas

• Wider availability and increased participation in positive activities

Aiming High- some key commitments

• Need to have a high-level of young people involvement the sector can help facilitate this

• Develop a high level of cooperation and partnership between large and small, statutory and voluntary

• Recognise the strengths of the sector in the local area and build on those strengths

How to involve the sector

Challenges for commissioners

• Putting young people at the heart of the decision making process

• Understanding the needs of the local area

• Recognising the potential conflicts that can arise from Local Authorities three roles as commissioner, provider and partnership facilitator

• Stimulating joint working and consortiums where appropriate

• Focussing on achievable and measurable quality outcomes rather than quantitative outputs

What the sector can bring

• Strong experience and understanding in particular communities and groups of young people

• Experience of working with specific groups of young people not accessing mainstream services

• Ability to react to emerging needs and preventative work

• Volunteers• Access to different funding streams• Capital resources

Where do we want to

be?

A new vision for young people’s services

requires real leadership & partnership