main content Young people speak up for services

A wide-ranging review of services for young people has found more than half of the borough’s youngsters do some form of exercise at least three times a week. A large number of sports activities are available and there are many successful uniformed, faith-based, music, arts and drama groups, as well as extra-curricula activities provided by schools.

The findings form part of a report to executive councillor for children and young people Graham Arthur following a comprehensive review of services provided by the Council as well as voluntary, community and private organisations.

The year-long review, undertaken by a Council committee, included consultation with 1,000 young people, providers of youth activities and other professionals.

While there is a wide range of leisure provision on offer, and almost two-thirds of young people surveyed said that they were either fairly satisfied or very satisfied with existing services, there is room for improvement and the committee has identified some key areas for development.

These include: involving young people in planning activities and ensuring all young people have access to a full range of opportunities; encouraging all organisations to work together more closely to ensure there are no gaps in provision; and ensuring young people’s positive contributions to their communities are recognised.

The Council’s recommendations will form the basis of an action plan to develop leisure opportunities for young people, and this comes as the Council takes back the direct management of its youth service.

A Council spokesman said: “This has been a comprehensive review and will lead to a marked improvement in activities for Bromley’s young people in the future.

“We are now in an excellent position to continue to develop services for all young people in Bromley.”

Consultation with young people will continue to be a feature of the youth service and the Council will work closely with other organisations to improve all services for 13 to 19-year-olds.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• From 1 April the Council’s statutory youth service will be managed in-house after being contracted out for the last 13 years. 
• The Council will welcome more than 80 new members of staff led by Rikki Garcia, as head of the youth service. 
• Activities for young people will continue to be delivered throughout the borough, including at the Council’s five youth centres: Phoenix in West Wickham; Castlecombe in Mottingham; Link in St Paul’s Cray; Duke in St Mary Cray; and Spitfire in Biggin Hill.

For media enquiries, please email richard.simcox@bromley.gov.uk or call 020 8313 4310