Unlocking business united futures presentation chyps annual convention
1. Unlocking Business
Confederation of Heads of Young People’s Services
Annual Convention 2012
Tuesday November 6th
Dominic Cotton, Director of Communications and
Business Development, UK Youth
2. Introduction to UK Youth
Over 100 years of innovative youth work to support the
changing needs of young people
We reach nearly 800,000 young people a year through
our direct work and our network of National & regional
youth associations
3. UK Youth working with Business
Because of our history we:
Are TRUSTED to represent and protect young people’s
interests and needs
Have a history of responding to changing funding
climates
Understand that business can bring vital SKILLS & APPEAL
5. What is United Futures?
• A government funded partnership project designed
to break down barriers between businesses and the
youth sector
• Primary aim is to promote the idea of mutually
beneficial partnerships and bring about new ones
7. Supporting partners
• National Council of Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)
• The Regional Youth Work Units (RYWU’s)
• Ambition (formerly Clubs for Young People)
Corporate supporters (e.g.s)
• BCSC (British Council of Shopping Centre’s), HSBC,
Land Securities, 02, Samsung, Starbucks & Visa Europe
8. The story so far
• Consultation & research
• Plymouth pilot based on BITC cluster model
• Promotion & regional events
• ‘Working with Business’ new guide
9. Research
• Activity is not widespread & lacks structure
• Clear link between employer engagement & a reduction
in YP’s likelihood of becoming ‘NEET’
• Evidence to build both a ‘social’ & ‘business’ case for
more engagement
• Key barrier is the recognised lack of awareness of each
other’s needs & capabilities
10. The Social Case
•21.9% of 16-24 yr olds are unemployed
•26% of young people classified as NEET have no
experience of employer engagement
•Local authority youth services in England are being cut
by £100m
11. The Business Case
Business agreed they can best support via a combination
of expertise & financial backing
•Develop existing & future workforce
•Increase brand value & reputation
•Improve community relations & recognition
•Financial & operational gains
12. Continuum of employer engagement with yp
Direct support to YP Indirect support to YP
Activities
Training Governance
Work with In-kind Financial
Volunteering & &
exp. young donations support
expertise management
people
13. Best Practice Case studies
• Music Fusion & Jobsite
Volunteers, mentors, in-kind donations
• Mazars & The Works Skatepark
Pro bono advice, led to governance
• GSS Architecture & Bilton Youth Club
Pro bono expertise to develop facilities
14. Futures Club Pilot (Plymouth)
• Launched April 2012 for 3 years
• 5 new partnerships via a broker
• Royal Mail/Young Devon – Training & paid work
experience scheme
• Ginsters/YMCA – workplace visits, employee
volunteering/governance
• Amey/Routeways – Mentoring/apprenticeships
15. Regional Events
• All 9 English regions (4 coming up)
• Speed-matching 20:20 youth/business
• Guided conversations using questionnaires to decide if
there is scope to work together
• At last event 89% of attendees said they met someone
they are interested in working with
• 3 follow-up events planned
16. ‘Working with Business’ new guide
• Published 2 versions October 2012
• Practical guide to help prepare an approach to
potential business partners
• Interactive workbook exercises available to download
17. Further progress
• Partnership starting between OAYP & Sanctuary
Housing in Midlands
• Multiple youth projects in Birmingham, S.Yorkshire &
Leeds to receive employer support via BITC Give &
Gain Day
• NCB evaluation will collate & evaluate successes
18. How to get involved
Social Media @United_Futures @UKYouth
Facebook.com/UnitedFutures
Webinars http://www.linqto.com/rooms/unitedfutures
Resources www.united-futures.org.uk
Further info www.ukyouth.org
Editor's Notes
As an organisation that has been working with young people for over 100 years we have a proven track record of understanding the aspirations of young people. We aim to help young people realise their potentail through non-formal learning. We have always believed that non-formal learning can help provide young people with the skills they need for life and work. To us working with employers to support young people is a no brainer, not every young person thrives in education but we want to believe there are jobs for all young people. Employers have always helped us provide real value and an alternative way of valuing the things young people achieve through their non-formal learning. The employment landscape is constantly changing and especially now when so many young people are struggling to find work bringing them together with employers in creative ways has never been more important.
UK Youth has been leading the way with developing relationships with businesses for a wide variety of reasons. Young people are at the heart of what we do and our youth steering group Youth Voice ensure that we prioritise their needs and listen to any concerns they might have. As a result we only work with companies that we can see have a genuine commitment to our work and young people. We appreciate there are different reasons that companies might want to work with charities and with young people such as to help motivate and bond their staff or to build better relationships with their local communities or to create ‘fans’ of their products or services. But we are seen broadly as an organisation that can balance those desires with positive outcomes for young people.
Speak briefly to each programme and relationship. Perhaps particularly highlighting Microsoft as you know this one best? This experience and our Trusted status meant that we were keen to get involved with United Futures & the Government thought we were the right consortium to deliver it. United Futures helps us spread our expertise, ethos & experience to small organisations at a time when their traditional funding streams and support networks are diminishing. We believe there is real energy in the business sector to do more community outreach and CSR work and that youth organisations with a little support can begin to make meaningful connections through United Futures.
Point 1 – explain youth sector & the idea of extending the model from large corp & capturing lower level activity
1. NCB Research & various sector consultations (Jan – May) – Research published in June by NCB Research Centre. http://ncb.org.uk/policy-evidence/research-centre/research-projects/a-z-research-projects/united-futures 2. Ginsters & YMCA, Kier & The Zone, Royal Mail & Young Devon, Routeways & Amey, Independent Utilities & the Stonehouse Play Association. 3. On-going press – national & regional campaign & 9 regional events bringing together local youth sector organisations & businesses. http://www.ukyouth.org/our-work-with-young-people/unitedfutures/events.html 4. Published September 2012 – long & short version – designed to be used as a workbook & exercises are also available to download online.
Source: Review of the national and international evidence of how employers can support youth organisations in England, NCB (June 2012) http://www.ncb.org.uk/policy-evidence/research-centre/research-projects/a-z-research-projects/united-futures
Sources http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/may/16/youth-unemployment-europe-oecd CBI (2010) Ready to grow: business priorities for education and skills. Education & Skills survey 201. London: CBI Each LA lost (on ave.) 9 youth workers in 2011/12. So far this year each LA has lost an additional 6 posts: CYP Now Study August 2012. 80% of voluntary organisations providing services for young people have said programmes will be cut.
93% of attendees at the UF roundtable in March agreed this was the best way to support young people This kind of activity will help build valuable skills needed for business – communication, leadership, management & decision-making. YP can be inspired to pursue new career paths/opportunities Building trust & recognition– rewarded by customers with brand loyalty Help reach a new demographic & establish local links Creativity/digital skills of YP – can bring new capabilities & perspective to enable a business to grow
Research has identified 7 ways that businesses can use their expertise & resources to support youth organisations: Directly supporting young people Employee volunteering e.g. mentoring Work experience Other activities involving young people e.g. workplace visits Building the capacity of orgs that support young people Training and expertise – both for young people and staff Governance and management In-kind donations – resources, prizes, matching fundraising targets etc. Financial support
1. http://www.musicfusion.org.uk/welcome.htm Music Fusion works in partnership with Jobsite, the local Police, Fire Service and Havant Borough Council. ‘Words Not Weapons’ programme supported young people involved in gang culture to use music to bridge gaps between rival gangs and local authorities. Culminated in live performances & documentary. 2. Charity needed help to acquire the skate part to expand facilities. Accountancy firm Mazars was able to value the skate park to help secure its acquisition. Later this volunteer decided to become a board member. 3. GSS Architecture: Club needed help securing funding for extension to provide additional housing, health & careers advice. GSS drew up & submitted planning application so new funders would take the club’s ambitions more seriously. Also employees benefitted from experience of working in different environment, GSS got positive PR & added to its portfolio and has since tendered for further similar pieces of work.
Full info here: http://www.ukyouth.org/our-work-with-young-people/united-futures/futuresclub.html Royal Mail and Young Devon This partnership has a very good scheme underway whereby the Royal mail will offer yp a chance to gain work with them if they follow this project pathway– YP to attend a one day careers advice workshop at the RM This will be followed by a 1 week training course relating to the world of work and RM activities. The next stage is a 2 week work experience placement with the RM And finally, if all successful the RM will offer a preferential job offer during their Christmas period Ginsters and YMCA Joint radio interviews to promote UF YO staff mentoring Ginsters donating pasties for YMCA fund raising event Joint scheme with local taxi firm to sponsor wheelchair friendly taxis, joint photo shoot Notice board at YMCA developed with ginsters showing local job vacancies Plus, early activities have included young people’s behind the scenes visits to Ginsters and career advice workshops. Amey and Routeways Staff offering mentoring session and presentations to YP and YO staff around work inspiration, HR, PR, I.T. etc Amey are gaining employee volunteering opps for staff who want to take part in the Routeways ‘Diggin it’ project to help communities learn about growing vegetables, horticulture etc. Early interventions involved behind the scenes visits for young people and Routeway staff to Amey’s HQ as well as reciprocal visits to the Routeways HQ for Amey staff. Quotes from Businesses involved Sue Higson, Unit Manager, Royal Mail: “‘Being in the position to help young people into work and support them with their career development is an exciting and rewarding challenge. Every young person we manage to help will be a motivational bonus. We are looking forward to a long lasting partnership with Young Devon and thank Business in the Community for making this possible.” Mark Duddridge, Managing Director of Ginsters “This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the lives, skills and ambitions of local young people.” Victoria Hutchins, Amey’s Watchman-in-Chief in Plymouth: “This is about investing in the Plymouth communities we work in to make a real difference. It’s also about investing in our staff, who will enjoy the many and varied ways they can get involved.” Quotes from YS involved Dan Coxon, Head of Fundraising and Communications, Young Devon: “ Young Devon is delighted to be a part of the UK’s first Future’s Club. Working alongside Royal Mail will help Young Devon develop as an organisation better equipped to face the challenges of the changing world that we work in, and so better support the young people that are the focus of all our energies and work. We are looking forward to the coming year and see benefits for both our organisations from what we hope will be a very successful partnership.” Mark Royles, Plymouth YMCA Business and Development Manager: “In order to continue to provide services for young people we need to work with local businesses and tap into their skills and expertise. We are delighted with the potential of working with Ginsters, one of the major employers in the South West. Their support will enable many young people to gain experiences and life opportunities that would not be possible to provide in isolation.” Andrew Turnock, Project Manager, Routeways Centre Limited: "It is a pleasure to be working with Amey and the programme will provide great opportunities to share skills, time and resources. We have agreed to develop our educational facilities, which will enable us to provide a year round programme to children and young people across the City.”
Full info: http://www.ukyouth.org/our-work-with-young-people/united-futures/events.html 16/18 attendees who completed the evaluation form at the Cambridge event said they met someone they are interested in working with. Quotes from Business Martin Gaunt, Regional Sales Manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “This was a really useful event. I made some great contacts who can help our business connect with local young people. I will be working hard to turn the conversations I had here into active partnerships.” Paul Andrews, Education Support Manager , Wates Construction. “I’m really pleased I came to this event. I made some useful new contacts who can help our business better support local young people. I hope the conversations I had here will turn into active partnerships.” Quotes from YS Gill Bainbridge, Chief Executive, Merseyside Youth Association: “It can sometimes be hard for us to identify businesses that want to back our work so to have a group of them in the same room was fantastic. We are always on the lookout for new supporters and I think I’ve met several of them here today.” Mary Sanders, Vice Chair, Young Lives. “We are in the early stages of identifying businesses who want to support our work. Today I’ve met employers who are keen to get involved. I look forward to following up these new connections on behalf of our membership organisations which will ultimately benefit young people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ”
Full info: http://www.ukyouth.org/our-work-with-young-people/united-futures/resources.html Interactive PDF’s: Let's get started Goals and targets Where are you now? Skills and resources audit Are we a good fit? Building and maintaining relationships Quotes from YS Tina Taylor, Development & Partnerships Manager, Curious Minds: “The evidence presented in this new guide has really helped me clarify the benefits of working in partnership with the private sector. I’ve compiled a succinct new pitch and identified some possible new business supporters thanks to the easy-to-use exercises.”
Val Craft, Community Link-up Project Manager, OAYP: “ Off the back of the untied futures event I had a meeting on Wednesday with Lucy Bannister, and her manager, from Sanctuary housing about them getting involved on a project I am setting up for OAYP. The ‘speed-dating’ activity at the event was so useful as it was from this that the potential partnership has sprung.” Adam Fouracre: Stand Against Violence Youth Café In talks with ASDA about local support & a possible business mentor. UKY fundraisers gave him some advice on applying for funding & sent a list of possible trusts that could help but they don’t know whether he had any luck following this up. Mob: 07887 758 837 [email_address] http://standagainstviolence.blogspot.co.uk
Next webinar session: ‘ Working with Business’ hosted by Peter Lambert OBE, Deputy Chief Exec of Business in the Community 1pm on Tuesday November 13 th .
