Enterprising future for youth services in Knowsley

An innovative way to deliver youth services is being developed after Knowsley Council and staff working for its youth service voted to establish a new social enterprise.

Knowsley Youth Mutual will deliver quality open access youth clubs, awards programmes and positive activities alongside specialist support and interventions for young people when it is fully operational by April 2014.

The arrangements are intended to safeguard the jobs of 80 staff currently working for Knowsley Council and protect current services for young people, which might otherwise be at risk because of government cuts to local authority funding. As a social enterprise, Knowsley Youth Mutual will be able to access other funding and trade its services on the open market, allowing it to generate more income.

John Dobson, a Young Advisor in the service said “The new organisation will put the needs and wants of local young people at its heart as they along with staff will have ownership of the new business.” The council will remain a key partner in the venture as it establishes itself as a community owned business.

Staff working for Knowsley Council’s Youth Service, Knowsley Rights and Participation Service and Knowsley Young Advisors have been fully consulted about the proposed establishment of the Youth Mutual. When the idea was put to a vote, 94% voted in favour. Becoming a mutual means any profits made will be used to further its social purpose – in other words, invested back into the provision of services for young people in the borough.

One of Knowsley Council’s key pledges to residents is to support the development of community-owned businesses. The creation of Knowsley Youth Mutual (KYM) is in keeping with this vision.

Councillor Eddie Connor, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Community and Culture said “Developing the Knowsley Youth Mutual enables the Council to ensure continued delivery of quality services that meet young people’s needs and improve their life chances.”

Viv Murray, Chair of Knowsley Youth Mutuals Shadow Board said “The aim of KYM is to raise the aspirations of young people in Knowsley, opening up a variety of opportunities, and giving them a greater influence over how services are delivered.”

“We have developed KYM in consultation with staff and young people in the borough, and they will remain the key influencers in deciding how the business grows and develops in coming years.”

This is the first such venture in the North of England and one of the first in the United Kingdom. Partners in this work include Public Service Mutuals with the Co-operative and the Cabinet Office’s Mutuals Support Programme.

Lisa Bennett

Communications Manager

Knowsley Council

0151 443 2221