Knowsley Youth Mutual Open for Business
Knowsley Youth Mutual (KYM), a new employee and young person owned and driven community benefit society, is fully operational from today (Tuesday 1 April 2014).
KYM will deliver high quality services for young people in Knowsley including the OurPlace youth facility, awards programmes, outdoor education and youth services, alongside specialist support and interventions.
Councillor Eddie Connor, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Community and Culture said: “This is a great achievement for the council and KYM. The creation of a new social enterprise is an excellent demonstration of how we are developing innovative ways of working to continue to deliver services that are important to our residents.”
“The creation of KYM has helped to safeguard jobs and will secure the delivery of youth services in Knowsley. “
One of the council’s key pledges is to support the creation of community-owned businesses and the creation of Knowsley Youth Mutual is in keeping with this vision.
Viv Murray, Chair of Knowsley Youth Mutuals Shadow Board said: “It’s a really exciting day for everyone involved in Knowsley Youth mutual and we are thrilled to be one of the first mutuals to exist in the country.
“Our vision for the future is to deliver services that meet the needs of young people and improve their life chances. We want to raise the aspirations of young people and empower them to engage and increase their influence.”
“We want to be the best Youth Mutual in the North West and beyond and we’re confident that with the support of our staff and our young people members, we can achieve this.”
Staff who worked for Knowsley Council’s Youth Service, Knowsley Rights and Participation Service and Knowsley Young Advisors were 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.
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.
The council will remain a key partner in the venture as it establishes itself as a community owned business.
As a youth membership organisation KYM has the aspiration of signing up a minimum of 3,000 young people as members in its first year.
Partners in this work include Public Service Mutuals with the Co-operative and the Cabinet Office’s Mutuals Support Programme.
For more information you can visit www.youthmutual.co.uk
Lisa Bennett
Communications Manager
Knowsley Council
0151 443 2221
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