South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 25/11/2015

Young people and the wider community in South Gloucestershire are being asked for their views on the future of the youth Positive Activities Subsidy (PAS) after March 2016 when its three-year funding programme ends.

The Positive Activities Subsidy was established in April 2013 to support community-based organisations in providing a wide range of activities for young people. It was introduced to provide a financial foundation to allow the groups to set up provision which it was hoped would become financially self-supporting during the three year period.

Along with all local authorities, South Gloucestershire Council is facing intense financial pressure with savings of £36 million required by 2019-20. It has to consider how services are currently provided and find different ways to meet the needs of local people while ensuring every pound is spent wisely and effectively.

Now that the three year funding programme is coming to an end, the Children and Young People Committee has launched this consultation, to ask for views on the scheme and gauge the potential impact of not extending the funding. Funding for youth provision in the priority neighbourhoods, and for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities will be protected.

Consultation began on 2 November and will run until 11 January 2016. Those being asked for their views include young people, parents and carers and organisations that have received PAS funding. The consultation is also open to the wider community including partner organisations.

Since the funding began in 2013, £1.18million has been allocated to organisations providing a variety of activities including open access youth centre activities, outreach youth work, arts and crafts, film, photography and music projects.

Councillor Jon Hunt, Chair of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “No decision will be made about the future of the positive activities subsidy until the consultation has taken place and a report on the feedback given has been carefully considered by the committee.”

A report including feedback from the consultation will be presented to the Children and Young People Committee on 2 March 2016 for a decision