Agenda item

9.1

The purpose of the report is to seek approval for the Council to become accountable body for multiple grants from the Youth Investment Fund.

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Committee approves the Council becoming accountable body for multiple grants up to a maximum combined value of £7.9 million from the Youth Investment Fund for the refurbishment and/or creation of youth and community facilities across the city in line with the basis set out in this report.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

The Youth Investment Fund (YIF) is a £368 Million Government commitment to young people to transform and level up the out-of-school youth sector.

9.3.2

Officers have been working on up to 13 proposals for funding from the Youth Investment Fund with a combined value of up to £7.9 million. It is a requirement of the funding that projects are fully completed by 31^st March 2025.

9.3.3

If successful, the funding will provide up to 13 new and refurbished youth facilities that will contribute to the aims of the Youth Strategy (2022-25) of enhancing the provision of universal youth work by investing in youth facilities across the city to make them safe, secure and with the right equipment to meet young Sheffielders’ expectations of modern, contemporary, welcoming spaces.

9.3.4

Having the right facilities in the right places will also contribute to the stated aim of having 3 universal youth provisions in each ward every week.

9.3.5

This decision will ensure that, if successful, the acceptance of the funding can be completed quickly to ensure that the projects can be delivered against the programme.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

Alternative option 1 – Do nothing.
A do-nothing option would be for the Council not to accept grant funding from the Social Investment Business Foundation through the Youth Investment Fund. This would result in not gaining the benefits of the funding for young people and communities across the city. Each individual project will benefit young people and their communities by increasing universal youth provision and/or providing facilities across the city that are safe, secure and with the right equipment to meet young Sheffielders’ expectations of modern, contemporary, welcoming spaces.

9.4.2

Alternative option 2 – Wait for the outcome of the application process.
Waiting until after grants are awarded will lead to a delay in progressing the projects and would increase the risk that projects could not be completed before the end of the funding period. Authorising the acceptance of grants prospectively reduces this risk.

9.1

The Head of Community Youth Services and Programme Manager, Communities submitted a report seeking approval for the Council to become the accountable body for multiple grants from the Youth Investment Fund.

9.2

Officers agreed to provide Members with further information on the list of sites where bids had been submitted for grant funding from the Youth Investment Fund.

9.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Committee approves the Council becoming accountable body for multiple grants up to a maximum combined value of £7.9 million from the Youth Investment Fund for the refurbishment and/or creation of youth and community facilities across the city in line with the basis set out in this report.

9.4

Reasons for Decision

9.4.1

The Youth Investment Fund (YIF) is a £368 Million Government commitment to young people to transform and level up the out-of-school youth sector.

9.4.2

Officers have been working on up to 13 proposals for funding from the Youth Investment Fund with a combined value of up to £7.9 million. It is a requirement of the funding that projects are fully completed by 31^st March 2025.

9.4.3

If successful, the funding will provide up to 13 new and refurbished youth facilities that will contribute to the aims of the Youth Strategy (2022-25) of enhancing the provision of universal youth work by investing in youth facilities across the city to make them safe, secure and with the right equipment to meet young Sheffielders’ expectations of modern, contemporary, welcoming spaces.

9.4.4

Having the right facilities in the right places will also contribute to the stated aim of having 3 universal youth provisions in each ward every week.

9.4.5

This decision will ensure that, if successful, the acceptance of the funding can be completed quickly to ensure that the projects can be delivered against the programme.

9.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.5.1

Alternative option 1 – Do nothing.
A do-nothing option would be for the Council not to accept grant funding from the Social Investment Business Foundation through the Youth Investment Fund. This would result in not gaining the benefits of the funding for young people and communities across the city. Each individual project will benefit young people and their communities by increasing universal youth provision and/or providing facilities across the city that are safe, secure and with the right equipment to meet young Sheffielders’ expectations of modern, contemporary, welcoming spaces.

9.5.2

Alternative option 2 – Wait for the outcome of the application process.
Waiting until after grants are awarded will lead to a delay in progressing the projects and would increase the risk that projects could not be completed before the end of the funding period. Authorising the acceptance of grants prospectively reduces this risk.