Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

None.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the People Policy Development Committee held on 21 April 2021 and 20 May 2021 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Update noted.

Amy Hawkins, Interim Head of Adult Services provided a verbal update on the Regional Volunteering Strategy as follows:

·         The toolkits/information advice would be launched the week after next, including the green / environmental volunteering toolkit and diversifying volunteering base toolkit.  These would be hosted regionally on different partners websites and further details would be circulated in due course;

·         Welsh Government funding for the Regional Volunteering Project linked to the toolkits had been developed regionally by Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Health Board, & CVC’s centrally and relevant training had been delivered. 

·         Additional surplus funding had been utilised towards a Regional Volunteer Project role post that would be advertised shortly.  The post would support and develop the work of the Volunteering Strategy, which was currently in a draft format and would be co-produced with partners.

·         A draft Strategy would come back to the People Policy Development Committee in the coming months and the final Strategy should be finalised and published in the next 6 months.

·         There was also a similar timescale for the regional volunteering post in supporting the process between now and next March, finishing in the early part of next year.

The Chair thanked the Interim Head of Adult Services for the update.

Resolved that the verbal update be noted.

Update noted.

Gavin Evans, Principal Officer for Early Help, Partnership and Young People provided a verbal update on the Young Carers Strategy as follows:

The dedicated officer had been appointed in the YMCA to support the Young Carers and the Young Carers Forum.  Nominations to the Forum had been received and good progress was being made.  Initial discussions had commenced and the Forum were keen to co-produce the strategy.  Meetings between Officers and the Young Carers would commence over the summer period with an ideal completion date of October.  However, that timescale might vary as there was still a need to understand more about how the young carers want to shape the strategy and the work that would entail.  Councillor Evans would also be invited to take part in those meetings.

The Chair thanked the Principal Officer for Early Help, Partnership and Young People for the update.

Resolved that the verbal update be noted.

Noted.

Elliott Williams, External Funding Manager, supported by Joanne Thomas, Employability Mentor Team Leader and Tim Moss, Swansea Working Coordinator provided a presentation on the current Employability Provision for Swansea Council.

He outlined details of the following Schemes, under “Swansea Working” and the support offered in respect of:

·                    Communities for Work;

·                    Cam Nesa;

·                    Workways +;

·                    Workways plus STU;

·                    Communities for Work +.

The External Funding Manager explained the key issues in respect of:

·                    Focus 1 - Supporting Young people into Employment;

·                    Focus 2 – The Kick-Start Scheme.

The Committee were asked to consider which one of the two schemes they wished to focus on for their third topic for 2021-2022.

Resolved that:

1)           The presentation be noted;

2)           The Chair undertake further discussions with the Officers regarding the options in advance of the next meeting scheduled for 28 July 2021.

Approved.

The Chair outlined the draft Work Plan for 2021-2022.

Resolved that the Work Plan for 2021-2022 be noted.