Prince’s Trust Scheme how many weeks over the course of a year the projects will run, and how many young people are estimated to take part in the Trust’s programme annually

2.4   Deputy S. Pitman of St. Helier of the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture regarding the Prince's Trust:

Would the Minister inform Members in connection with the recent decision to work with the Prince's Trust Scheme how many weeks over the course of a year the projects will run, and how many young people are estimated to take part in the Trust's programme annually?

Senator M.E. Vibert (Minister for Education, Sport and Culture):

It is always a pleasure to answer questions on the Youth Service. As delivery partner for the Prince's Trust, the Youth Service is supporting 3 programmes. The first programme is the Team Programme, which is aimed at 16-25 year-olds. This is a 12- week development programme through which young people work in a team of up to 15. One such programme has already been successfully completed, and there are plans for 2 further programmes each year, resulting in the involvement of around 30 people. With reference to the second programme, planning has commenced with 3 of our 4 11-16 schools to introduce Excel. This is a programme which is aimed at key stage 4 pupils who may have become disengaged. These programmes operate for around 3 hours each week, and at each school up to 24 pupils will be involved. Discussions regarding the third programme, Sound Live, are at a very early stage and at this time the numbers of young people to be involved is not known.

1. Deputy S. Pitman:

Could the Minister inform the Assembly how much the implementation of the Prince's Trust will cost? How much these programmes will cost? Also will a full or part-time worker be employed to carry out these 36 weeks of the year?

Senator M.E. Vibert :

Perhaps I can say that not the overall costs, but the costs to Education as a partner in this is for ourselves a sum estimated to be of the value of £42,000 a year, but this will be provided as in-kind contribution from the Youth Service and other parts of the Education, Sport and Culture Department. This will cover management support, the use of existing resources, including accommodation, mini-buses, equipment, etc. We are working as part of a team, and details of how this is going to be delivered in detail are still being worked on. I will try to get information about how it is going to be delivered in detail to the Deputy when this has been finalised with the other delivery partners.

2. Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:

Could the Minister tell us, notwithstanding the excellent work performed by the Prince's Trust, but more typically performed in encouraging entrepreneurs in inner- city areas, to what extent and where he sees new programme additions coming from the presence of the Trust?

Senator M.E. Vibert :

I did not understand the question terribly well. What I can say is that we have embraced the concept of the Prince's Trust, along with other delivery partners, and the first programme that the Trust has delivered has proved exceptionally successful and well received. Following on from that we have had a number of self-referrals, and referrals from the Probation Office and so on, for the second programme which is aimed at engaging and developing people who have previously fallen through the net, so to speak, and are having difficulty getting employment and being fully involved in our society. I think that this is a very welcome development and one that should be applauded by all Members of this House, and the public in general, because it is a programme designed to reach young people which we previously had great trouble reaching.

3. Deputy D. W. Mezbourian of St. Lawrence :

I think the Minister has in fact just answered the brunt of my question, but perhaps he could advise the House how those young people who have fallen through the net will be reached?

Senator M.E. Vibert :

Yes, those young people as I mentioned, we have had 30 enquiries about the programme, with referrals coming from Probation, Social Service, youth workers based in the different communities, and young people referring themselves. I think this has highlighted the demand for such programmes, and I would like to thank the media for the publicity they gave to the initial programme which has really encouraged others to be aware of it and become involved. It is leading to the success of meeting this gap in our provision.

4. Deputy D.W. Mezbourian :

I would suggest that not all young people read the Jersey Evening Post or listen to local radio stations. Is there any scheme in place whereby perhaps this scheme is made available to the young people who register at Social Security?

Senator M.E. Vibert :

It already is, and we try to make it available through every outlet we can where such young people will be able to access it.

5. Deputy S. Pitman:

Sir, I do not believe the Minister answered my question regarding a worker. Will he be employing a youth worker, and how much will this cost, and will it be for the 36 weeks?

Senator M.E. Vibert :

I said we were part of a delivery partnership and w are in discussions with our other partners over exactly how we are going to develop the Prince's Trust in future. We have set aside some funding which will be referred to later, and we hope that we can go about ensuring that the programme is delivered in the best possible way. As I said, I will give details to the Deputy and if the States wish those details to be given in this House, and another question is asked, I am quite prepared to do so. We are developing these programmes. We are trying to set them up for the coming year. It is a very new

and young programme and we are looking forward to it being a very successful programme, and we will do whatever we need to in the terms of staffing it to ensure its success.

6. Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:

Would the Minister not acknowledge, again notwithstanding the excellent work of the Trust, it seems very strange that he should now be aware of the hard to reach young people. Would he not acknowledge that this is an integral part of Youth Service work and Youth Services are moving more and more, as they have to, in this direction? Also has this realisation just dawned upon him recently, or has he ensured that the Youth Service is constantly dealing with this group?

Senator M.E. Vibert :

What a depressing question. The Youth Service has been dealing with this group. We have been aiming to them. We have had detached Youth Worker Projects. What we are trying to do is improve the offering we can give to these groups and to all groups all the time. This programme has proved particularly successful in the UK. We have seen its success and we have had an opportunity to introduce it into Jersey. We have done so to improve the offer. That is not to say we were not doing what we could before, and always seeking to improve the offer to these young people.

7. Deputy G.P. Southern :

I will put it as simply as I can. Is the Minister intending to add to the staffing quota? Is he going to employ another youth worker in order to deliver this particular scheme?

Senator M.E. Vibert :

I do not know how many times I can say the same answer. We are working with our delivery partners to ensure that we deliver this scheme in the best and most effective way possible.

Deputy G.P. Southern : Is that a "yes" or "no"?