The 'Hub'

The count down has started! January 14, 2009, will see a new concept in how services are delivered to young people in the London Borough of Bexley.

Over the past year or so, services have been coming together under the banner of Integrated Youth Support Services. The idea of this is to bring together the full range of services available to young people; improve them and make them easier for young people to access. Examples of some of the services involved are: the Youth Service, Youth Offending Team, Prospects (who deliver the Information, Advice and Guidance Service) as part of Connexions, the Connexions Targeted Service, 16+ Resources Team (which includes Housing and Leaving Care), the Youth Engagement Service and other services run by the voluntary and community sector.

Last year the London Borough of Bexley asked young people what they would like to see happening in order to improve the services they received from the range of different service providers who try to help them. The main findings were young people wanted 'a supermarket of services' which they could access under one roof. This idea has been accepted and we are currently in the process of trying to put this into place.

The working title of this project is called the 'Hub'; however that name and the types of services run from it are not set in tablets of stone, as young people and staff are already involved and will have the opportunity to decide on these matters between now and 14 January, 2009.

We will keep you up to date about the 'Hub' developments, however if you are a young person and you wish to be involved or have any views and comments, please contact Sally Allen or a member of the Youth Council by calling 020 8836 8291 or e-mailing sally.allen@bexley.gov.uk. Alternatively if you are a parent/carer or professional please contact John Taylor by calling 020 8301 3900 or e-mailing john.taylor@prospects.co.uk.