Estyn inspectors praise Flintshire’s youth services

Youth services in Flintshire have been given a clean bill of health – with Estyn inspectors praising the opportunities, support and inclusivity the authority’s team provides.

Estyn, His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, inspected Flintshire County Council’s Youth Services in June and found that it ‘provides a wide range of valuable youth work opportunities that support young people’s personal, social and educational development well’.

It went on to detail that the services, which include outdoor learning, Duke of Edinburgh opportunities, participation work, volunteering, youth voice, issue-based projects and specialist support for vulnerable young people, help Flintshire’s young people feel safe, listened to and respected.

It’s only recommendations were improve the consistency of the service delivery across the county, strengthen the promotion of it to raise awareness of the services it provides and to ensure that its Prevent training – for early intervention in cases where young people may be vulnerable to extreme ideologogies – is up to date.

“Most youth workers build strong, supportive relationships with young people, who benefit from highly positive and trusting relationships with them,” said the inspector.

“Across a range of settings, young people report feeling listened to, respected and supported. They value the consistency of youth workers and the non-judgemental support they receive, which contributes positively to their well-being and encourages sustained engagement.

“Young people have meaningful opportunities to influence decisions and shape provision. Through mechanisms such as the Young Volunteers’ project, Youth Council and Young Flintshire, consultation activities and programme planning processes, they contribute to decisions about activities, priorities and service development.

“As a result, young people feel that their views are valued and that they can make a difference within their communities.”

Councillor Mared Eastwood, Cabinet Member for Education, Welsh Language, Culture and Leisure, said: “We are delighted that Estyn has recognised the positive impact Flintshire’s Youth Services have on the lives of our young people. This report highlights the dedication and passion of our teams, who work tirelessly to support young people’s wellbeing and development.

“We welcome Estyn’s recommendations and are committed to building on the many strength identified to ensure even more young people can benefit from the valuable opportunities and support our Youth Services provide.”

By Alec Doyle – Local Democracy Reporter