To ask the Minister of Education to detail the ways in which he is working with communities and individuals in order to engage young people in youth services.

The provision of youth services is an operational matter for the Education Authority (EA) and is based on the assessed needs of children and young people at regional and local level. In line with my Department’s youth policy ‘Priorities for Youth – Improving Youth People’s Lives through Youth Work’, inclusion, participation and collaborative working are central to their approach.

The EA consults directly with children and young people, their parents/guardians and other key community stakeholders in identifying need and in the design and development of responsive services. (The current three year Regional Assessment of Needs (RAoN) and Local Assessments of Need can be accessed via the EA’s website through the following links – https://eanifunding.org.uk/home/publications-and-resources/regional-assessment-of-need/ and https://eanifunding.org.uk/local-assessment-of-need/ ).

Youth service staff also work in partnership with a range of bodies to increase the appeal of youth services to a greater number of children and young people, promote youth services within local communities and provide advice, guidance and support on ways to engage with, and advocate for, children and young people. This includes the Regional Advisory Group (a partnership with my Department and regional voluntary youth groups), Local Advisory Groups (which include council, police, education, young people and other community and voluntary representatives), Civic Forums, Policing Community Safety Partnerships, Vulnerable People Hubs and Neighbourhood Renewal Area fora.

In addition the EA’s New Funding Scheme has enabled funding to be delivered to a range of local and regional voluntary groups to engage with and introduce children and young people to youth services, including in areas where they may not previously have been available.