MLA South East is involved in a number of activities relating to young people.
Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a national shared programme of change to improve outcomes for all children and young people (CYP). It takes forward the Government’s vision of radical reform for children, young people and families. As a result of this and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Five-Year Strategy for Children and Learners (November 2004), Government Office South East (GOSE) is responsible for putting Government policy for children and young people into practice at a regional level.
The South East Children and Young People Forum
One of the ways GOSE implements this is through The South East Children and Young People Forum. Current forum members are drawn from a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community organisations in the South East including MLA South East. This collaborative approach helps to ensure that children and young people in the South East remain at the heart of policy making and delivery, at a local, regional and national level.
Positive Activities for Young People
Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) is a national, cross-departmental programme that was developed in 2003 to engage “at risk” children and young people (8-19 years) in purposeful holiday activity programmes.
GOSE are responsible for co-ordinating the programme within their region through local Lead Delivery Agents. MLA South East is working with GOSE to identify ways in which museums, libraries and archives can offer activities for the programme. Project Hero and Image & Identity have been highlighted as suitable.
Start with the Child
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) commissioned the report Start with the Child: The Needs and Motivations of Young People (November 2002) to profile changing social, emotional, personal and cultural needs of young people investigating their needs, motivations and attitudes.
Consulting with children and young people it is intended for use by museums, libraries and archives to inform their service provision for young people up to 16 years old. “More young people will be only motivated to use museums, archives and libraries if they feel that these institutions meet their specific needs…” The report details these needs.
Child Protection: Working with children and young people in museums, libraries and archives
Organisations need to check any potential employee who will be working with children or vulnerable adults. The main points of this procedure, known as “disclosure”, are clarified in a Briefing Note produced by MLA South West.
Cracking Open Culture: Strategic Commissioning Education Programme
Strategic Commissioning is a national education programme aimed at non-Hub museums, which complements Renaissance in the Regions.
Through effective brokerage, it aims to build sustainable partnerships between museums/archives and schools, especially those who have not previously used museums within the curriculum.
For more information access www.mlasoutheast.org.uk/whatwedo/learning/culture/.
