Scheme of Affiliation for Voluntary and Maintained  Organisations

Youth organisations entitled to affiliation will work with young people in their leisure time and whilst the work will be educational, recreational and cultural, it should not form part of the national curriculum for schools.

Groups wishing to affiliate should meet affiliation criteria which include subscribing to the youth and community service “Statement of Purpose” and the cornerstones of the service curriculum, equality/diversity, empowerment & learning for life.

Individual organisations are required to complete a questionnaire.  National organisations cannot affiliate en bloc, however, national and counties regulations may be used to fulfil the conditions of affiliation provided they demonstrate how the core curriculum is delivered.  Organisations which are not part of a national body should meet the conditions of affiliation.

Benefits of Affiliation

• Beneficial use of youth and community centres
• Training grants may be available to youth workers and for senior member leadership training courses, either on the Island or the mainland.
• Participation in the Youth and Community Service Training courses, subject to applying for training grant
• Participation in the Youth and Community Service activities programme
• Beneficial use of the youth and community service minibus hire
• Beneficial hire of beds, blankets etc
• Beneficial hire of camping equipment
• Beneficial hire of badge making machine
• Beneficial access to the authority’s residential centre at Llanbrynmair
• Access to advice, information, printing and photocopying services
• Copies of the Youth and Community Service Bulletin with access to use the Bulletin for promotion of own organisation.

Conditions of Affiliation

Apart from the national voluntary organisations, for whom special provision is made, all organisations accepted for affiliation will be expected, in general, to observe the following minimum conditions:-

1. All staff working with young people must be CRB checked
2. That the organisations possess an adult management committee of at least three persons, together with membership representatives.  Organisations should aim for 50% representation by members
3. That there is a recognised youth worker or officer in charge.
4. That the organisation normally meets on at least one evening a week for not less than two hours
5. That the organisation has a programme which is as broad as possible and is designed to promote equality/diversity, empowerment & learning for life.
6. That an accurate register of names, addresses and ages of all members is kept
7. That an annual membership fee, however nominal, is paid by members, together with weekly or nightly subscriptions
8. That proper accounts are kept and are independently examined/audited annually
9. That the organisation makes suitable arrangements to ensure the safety and well-being of members and staff, including appropriate insurance
10. That the groups meet in suitable premises
11. That the organisation agrees to permit officers of the Authority to pay informal visits to the organisation as and when necessary during the times that it is stated officially to be open
12. That the officer or person in charge of the organisation will undertake to advise the Principal Youth and Community Officer of any alteration in the details shown on the affiliation form

No fee is charged for affiliation.

Affiliation will not be granted to any organisation when private gain accrues to any member of staff or member.

A review of charges and affiliation will be made on an annual basis.

Statement of Purpose

Youth work complements and supports learning in schools, and contributes to social welfare and community development.  It offers to all a constructive and educational use of leisure time.  It helps young people achieve and fulfil their potential and to make choices about their lives, offering them information, advice and support.  It works with other agencies to encourage society to be responsive to young people’s needs, especially those young people who are vulnerable.

Youth work on the Island is delivered through a partnership between voluntary organisations and the maintained sector which provides or facilitates:

• Informal educational programmes which challenge young people and enhance their personal and spiritual development, social and political education;
• Places and relationships within which young people can have fun, feel secure and valued, learn to take greater control of their lives and to resist the damaging influences which affect them;
• Access to and ability to use relevant information, advice and counselling;
• Responsiveness by other services to the needs of young people;
• Research, monitoring and publication of social trends and legislation which affect young people.

EQUALITY/DIVERSITY

Promoting equality and diversity through the challenge of oppressions such as racism and sexism and all those which spring from difference of culture, race, language, sexual identity, gender, disability, age, religion and class.

EMPOWERMENT

Supporting young people to understand and act on the personal, social and political issues which affect their lives, the lives of others and the communities of which they are a part.

LEARNING FOR LIFE

Learning for life embraces all that is usually understood as ‘education’ and extends beyond that to the general well-being of the individual.  It focuses as much on, for example, spiritual and emotional aspects, drugs and alcohol awareness and the many other issues for young people because of the impact of these on the ability of young people to respond to the more traditional interpretation of ‘education’ in a formal, structured sense.

Category 1 – free usage is available to:-

Those organisations which subscribe to the “Statement of Purpose” and the aims and objectives of the Youth and Community Service.  These groups are likely to be those which have a membership and are part of a national organisation, for example Guides and Scouts.

Category 2 – free usage is available to:-

Those organisations which work with and on behalf of young people but do not have a membership, for example IW Youth Trust.

Category 3 – free usage is available to:-

Schools/Connexions who are working in partnership with the Youth Service.

Category 4 – 50% of charges is available to:-

Single activity groups or youth groups of adult clubs, for example sports clubs.

Category 5 – 50% of charges is available to:-

Schools who wish to use youth centres for non-curriculum activities, including those who are home educated.

When a Centre is used outside normal Caretaking working hours, additional costs will be charged to the hirer; these will be made at the current rates which are subject to change.  This charge is applicable to all hirers including those that are entitled to free usage.

For organisations that qualify for free usage of Youth Centre Premises, this will be limited to one free usage per week - any additional use will be charged at the normal rate.

Priority will be given to the work of the Centre – notice will be given.

For all usage, this will be subject to negotiation and local agreement at the discretion of the centre manager.

Please contact the Youth Office for an Application Form