LYPF Task Group Meeting Minutes
Date: 21.04.10
Time: 11.30
Venue: London Youth, 47-49 Pitfield Street
Present Alexandra Molano Chair (AM), Rachel Cass (RC), Emma Bird (EB), Fiona
Wyton (FW) Nicola Moore (NM), Christina Conte (CC), Titanya Gavavito (TG), Natalie
Murr (NMR), Susi Farnworth (SF), Alex Burch (AB), Andrae Palmer (AP), Trevor Nunn
(TN) Minute Taker
1. Introductions
AM welcoming Titanya Gavavito to the group who joins from the Latin American Youth
Forum. AM reminds members to take a look at the Olympics bulletin and for volunteer
opportunities.
2. Apologies
Gethyn Williams and Maria (LSVC)
Carla Roberts
Sharon Long
Jane Leighton
3. Introduction to the forum
AM reiterates to the group that the aim of the forum is to meet the youth led sector’s
specific needs and to influence policy, focussing particularly on raising awareness of the
youth-led sector amongst funders, commissioners, policy makers and the third and
public sectors.
4. Duty to Involve presentation by Natalie Murr LCF & Alex Burch IARS:
NMR is the London Empowerment Partnership Coordinator for London Region for the
London Civic Forum. The London Civic Forum is an organisation which aims to promote
civic participation by all sections of London's life. It provides opportunities for individuals
to meet across the barriers that divide our life in London, enabling people and
organisations to share and learn from each other outside the sector divides we so often
operate within.
NMR explained to the members that Local Government and Public Involvement in
Health Act (2007) and Communities in Control: real people, real power (2008) has
brought in a range of new statutory requirements for Local Authorities, one of these
being ‘Duty to Involve’. ‘
‘Duty to Involve’ requires local authorities to ‘Inform, Consult and Involve’ the local
community for greater local empowered in decisions about their services. Local
Authorities now have a duty to encourage wide participation to all interested parties.
This statutory requirement will be enforced ‘Comprehensive Area Assessment’ through
producing evidence.
Concerns around ‘Duty to Involve’ are around language, lack of enforcement, cultural
resistance and Local Authority tokenistic response.
Positive outcomes are for Local Authorities to come up with creative ways of
engagement and best practice, used as a lobbying tool, provides legitimacy and real
local democracy.
AB has conducted research on ‘Young People – Making Duty of Involvement Work for
Us’ and has published the findings as a journal report. The research took place in
Lambeth and AB ran focus groups with Young People asking how Lambeth Council
involved them in the Planning process for their local built environment. AB found that
knowledge of the consultation processes offered were low and that young people
weren’t aware of other groups such as the Youth Council and others.
TG has run consultations through using the Arts, creating pictures and through theatre
which helped people communicate and get involved.
5. Briefing
RC explained the aim of the briefing is to act as a tool for approaching commissioners
and funders workers but also as a policy document. The briefing is still a draft and RC
wants feedback on any further changes at this stage.
FW felt it necessary to wait until after the election so that the document can be reworded
to align the focus to new government initiatives and policy. FW agrees the briefing is
great for leverage with local authorities but is concerned with the impact of spending cuts
post election. NM agreed.
NM thinks the heading ‘Community Cohesion’ should be more specific with
‘Intergenerational work’ instead and needs to promote available partnerships that are
available.
SF suggested showing the draft briefing to some funders/ commissioners to get their
feedback as well the London Funders organisation.
EB asked whether a Youth-led definition should be included and the group thought that
this was difficult to define. It was agreed that perhaps including characteristics of a
project to look out for may be useful and ask Commissioners thoughts on this.
6. Building on the Briefing
AM was keen to establish a launch timetable. The group agreed that after the election
was best with the view of getting the briefing completed by October 2010. RC thinks that
this will allow her to reword the briefing following the election.
AM wanted a decision on who this briefing should target, suggested that the document
would also act as a tool for youth-led groups to site for their own purposes. The
members agreed for it to be sent to Funders, Commissioners, Youth Council, but were
unsure of the level; however NMR may be able to advise.
7. Beyond the Briefing
The group thought that a toolkit should be developed on Youth-led work including advice
and solutions, particularly around information gathered by youth-led groups in activities
and how to package the information for different audiences. NM suggested that ways of
presenting to Funders and interested parties needed more attention. AM will table this
item again for future discussion.
8. Results from pilot survey of the needs of the youth-led sector:
AM reported back to the group the results from a recent survey. They found that Youthled sector is seeking greater funding and news updates and training in HR and
fundraising. It was suggested that they can access the news updates of the YLPN
network and Envision. Also, needs around legal issues arose, particularly accessing
advice for beneficiaries.
9. Information Exchange
At a recent Voluntary sector forum meeting a report from the London Councils indicated
that money was available to develop Policy for Young People. This was a direct
response to the consultations that took place for which AM thanked everyone for
completing.
10. Dates of the next meetings
 Thursday 22nd July 2pm – Venue TBC
 Thursday 21st October 2pm – Venue TBC
 Thursday 20th January 2pm – Venue TBC