CS6085 - Universal Provision of Youth Activities

Tower Hamlets Council aims to create universal 'safe spaces' in every ward throughout the borough, where young people can stay safe, participate in positive activities and educational opportunities, as well as access additional support from youth workers. The Council intends to achieve this primarily by delivering the services in-house, although there is a need to commission up to 8 wards where no Council premises are available to run the service, to ensure there is an accessible universal provision available in all borough wards. Improving services for young people is a key priority in The Tower Hamlets Children and Families Partnership Strategy 2024-2029 (TH_IS Accelerate). There has been significant investment in the Youth Service (Young Tower Hamlets), to transform the level of support available to children and young people so that they are given the best start in life and have easy access to opportunities to fulfil their potential. The Council's ambition to have youth service provision at ward level is a step towards achieving this vison, as centre-based youth work is recognised to significantly contribute to curricular goals such as health and wellbeing. The commissioned Universal Ward Based Youth Activity provision will seek to provide youth centre provision in the specialist wards currently lacking in-house delivery. It will support young people aged 11-19 (up to age 25 with SEN) with access to free, accessible, high quality and well publicised positive activities which embed the Service's commitment to promoting healthy living and provides safe, yet challenging spaces for personal and social development. There is potential to procure these universal youth services in up to 8 wards (service lots) across Tower Hamlets Borough. Successful Provider/s must deliver these services from a designated building (in each individual ward/service lot), whether it's their own or leased and this will be assessed during the tender.