Locally, Black Country Connexions serves the areas covered by the four Local Authorities of the Black Country. It has a strategic support function at the Black Country level, and strong locally focussed teams which work closely with other locally based services, including schools, the colleges, training providers, youth offending teams, youth service, health service etc.
Organisational Purpose
The organisational purpose of Black Country Connexions is:
- To provide high quality independent and impartial information, advice, guidance and personal development support to young people between the ages of 13-19 (up to 25 for those with learning difficulties) to enable them to make a successful transition from teenage to adulthood
- To advocate on behalf of young people to ensure the opportunity structure is responsive to their needs
- To ensure young people's voices are heard by those making decisions on their behalf
Connexions partnerships cover the whole country and follow the Learning and Skills Council boundaries. They work increasingly close with Local Authorities, Health Service and the Voluntary Sector. Their activities are being integrated with other services aimed at meeting young people's needs.
Common Purpose with LSPs
The key measurement of success for Connexions services is a reduction in the numbers and proportion of young people who are not in education, employment or training. This was one of the targets for the Local Area Agreement and a key activity in raising aspiration, attainment and achievement, and contributing to the economic and social well-being of young people, their families, and the community.
The service is driven by a desire to:
- Help ensure young people understand themselves and the world around them
- Advocate on their behalf with opportunity providers to ensure that their realistic ambitions are matched with the opportunities available
- Seeking to prevent young people from being not in education, training or employment (NEET) or remaining NEET for long
- Provide young people with an opportunity to have their voice heard by decision makers
Benefits and Constraints from LSP Engagement
Potential benefits from LSP engagement;
- Much improved strategic networking, service design and delivery arrangements
- Better decision making about services for young people, in the context of wider service and community regeneration and development
Constraints
- There are limits of funding, when managing the tensions which emerge when seeking to provide a universal and differentiated service, to meet the individual needs of all the young people served by the service
Relationships with other Partnerships
- Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership (CYPSP)
- Learning and Skills Council Board (LSCB)
- Youth Offending Team Board (YOTB)
Other things you need to know;
- The Partnership locally has teams of staff focussing on meeting young people's needs by developing a broad skill set
- Young people are actively involved in the design and delivery of Connexions services
- Connexions is an active member of the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership and its working groups, as well as contributing to the Children's Trust
More Information
You can find out more about Black Country Connexions at;
Black Country Connexions
Saltwells Educational and Development Centre
Bowling Green Road
Netherton Dudley
Dudley
DY2 9LY
01384 811400
connexions@dudley.gov.uk
Visit the website at http://www.connexions-bc.co.uk/
