Hillingdon Council is taking bold steps to empower its youth and create thriving, safe communities. Following an extensive nine-week public consultation which gathered feedback from young people, families, carers, and partner agencies, the council have announced a new Youth Offer.
One of the key transformations involves shifting from a traditional, building-centric model to a more flexible and community-centred approach. This will involve utilising existing council facilities and constructing state-of-the-art family hubs. In addition, there will be an emphasis on street-based youth work and outreach programs to ensure services are easily accessible to all.
Pending the standard scrutiny process, Hillingdon Council's Youth Offer promises a broader, more contemporary, and digitally-enhanced range of services. This expansion will provide young people with greater flexibility in terms of timing and a wider array of opportunities for personal, social, and educational development, ultimately promoting improved wellbeing.
To streamline access to these services, a digital service directory will be established, offering a comprehensive listing of both council and community youth services in one convenient location.
"It was imperative that our young residents using the array of youth services available had a say in what could be delivered and how, so as to ensure the council is offering an innovative and fit for purpose model for today and the future. The world is evolving rapidly, and we need to evolve with the times making sure services remain relevant and match the needs of our young people and are delivered where they can access them." Councillor Susan O'Brien