MD3196 Convening and Partnership and Youth Engagement

1.1.    This Mayoral Decision Form (MD) sets out a proposal for the continuation of the convening and partnership work of the Children and Young Londoners team, and the youth engagement programme, from 2023 to 2025. 
1.2.    The Mayor is committed to supporting London’s children and young people. He continues to make investments from City Hall to ensure that young people are helped at critical stages in their lives with positive activities and better access to opportunities through training, mentoring, education, and employment.
1.3.    Young people are the future of our city. However, over the past few years, disadvantaged children and young people have disproportionately felt the effects of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Not only were they most impacted by school closures and job market shocks, but the inequalities that exist between them and their peers deepened. Although all young people are feeling the consequences, for some young Londoners it exposed just how unequal their access to opportunity is. 
1.4.    Tackling inequalities of this scale requires widespread change. Ensuring young people have access to positive opportunities is central to this. The Mayor is supporting London’s children and young people through several interventions and programmes, such as his Free School Meals programme; and the New Deal for Young People, which was created to ensure 100,000 disadvantaged young Londoners have access to high-quality mentoring.
1.5.    Ensuring that the voices of young Londoners are heard and embedded across the work of the Mayor is crucial. As future leaders of our city, their insight and opinions are vital in helping design solutions to some of the issues we face. This has been a longstanding pillar of the Mayor’s work and has been facilitated by a range of youth engagement programmes across many programmes run across the GLA. 
Youth engagement
1.6.    This MD seeks approval for expenditure of up to £115,000 in 2023-24, and £105,000 in 2024-25, for youth engagement activity. This work will, as part of a broader and strategic GLA-wide approach to youth engagement which to date has focused mainly on directly embedding youth engagement and participation practice and resources into youth focused policy and programmes. Over 2024-25 we plan to take the opportunity to extend this focused work to take a more strategic approach to building children and young people’s voices into a much broader array of Mayoral policy and delivery so that we are able to enable a whole systems approach to improving outcomes for children and young people; a CYP voice in all policy approach. 
1.7.    The current core youth engagement projects led by the Health Children & Young Londoners Unit (Peer Outreach Workers, the LynkUp Crew) provide generalist youth voice to CYP dedicated programmes routinely, and where specifically commissioned, provide youth voice to wider high-profile priorities such ULEZ, The London Plan, Universal Free School Meals, and the Health Inequalities Strategy.  
1.8.    More specifically, this funding would continue to resource the London Partnership Youth Board (formally the London Youth Recovery Board) is a dedicated group which supports the work of the London Partnership Board and provides young Londoners with the opportunity to share their views and insights on the issues that matter most to them. The group of diverse Londoners helps contribute to three main priorities: housing and investment in London; unlocking opportunities for young Londoners and those most in need; and tackling the cost of living.
1.9.    London Partnership Youth Board members attend regular meetings, and present at the London Partnership Board on a quarterly basis. Supervision, training, and management of the youth groups ensure that delivery provides quality outcomes. Young people are provided with specialist one-to-one support on mental health and wellbeing; information and guidance; and regular development days. 
1.10.    MOPAC will make a grant of up to £35,000 to the GLA. MOPAC has confirmed that it has sufficient budget to make the grant and the fourth decision of this Mayoral Decision seeks the Mayor's approval of the revenue grant in accordance with section 121 of the GLA Act.
Convening, insights, and partnership work
1.11.    This MD also seeks approval for expenditure of up to £100,000 in 2023-24 for convening and partnership work. This work will entail: a robust learning and development plan to support teams in the GLA working on children and youth policy to broaden their knowledge and skills; communications and marketing activity including establishing a single voice for the Mayor on young Londoners; stakeholder engagement; delivery of several engagement events for, and with the children and young people's sector; and to part-fund a Senior Research and Statistical Analyst post in the GLA’s City Intelligence Social Policy Analysis (SPA) team (see paragraph 1.10) to provide analytical and insight expertise. 
1.12.    To support the GLA to boost intelligence and insights capacity to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for children and young people, approval is sought for expenditure on the post of a Senior Research and Statistical Analyst in the GLA’s City Intelligence Social Policy Analysis (SPA) team. This role will provide vital, high-quality updated narrative and evidence on priority areas such as mental health; child obesity; attainment and inequalities gaps; and school exclusions. There will be a particular focus on disproportionately affected groups. This work is critical to the GLA’s leading role as a convenor and leader. The post has been approved in parallel through GLA Establishment Control processes.
1.13.    The Senior Research and Statistical Analyst post will cost £10,000 in 2023-24; and £27,000 in 2024-25. This work will be vital in ensuring we have the relevant data to engage with our stakeholders. 
 

2.1.    The objectives of the youth engagement work are to: 
•    ensure the Mayor’s policy and programme activity is better aligned with the concerns, experiences and perspectives of children and young Londoners
•    facilitate systematic and sustained youth engagement within the organisation, and with key partner organisations
•    provide personal skills development opportunities for the young people involved. 
2.2.    The outcomes are:
•    providing models of good practice in delivery; and outcomes that better meet the needs of London’s young people and children
•    ensuring diverse young Londoners influence policymaking and planning, and programme delivery
•    ensuring young Londoners are at the heart of shaping London’s response to challenges. 
•    ensuring the GLA, and organisations in the city, improve how they deliver and sustain youth-led activity
•    ensuring young Londoners increase their skill set, and can take advantage of further opportunities for employment, education, or training
•    ensuring the GLA shares knowledge and best practice by publishing an evaluation, in partnership with Royal Holloway, University of London, on the work and impact of the POWs; and a good practice guide on youth participation.
2.3.    The objectives of the convening and partnership work are:
•    that staff have sufficient support, and have their learning and development needs met through regular training and other opportunities (such as attending conferences), 
•    that work is supported by relevant and accessible data and evidence
•    that work is clearly and effectively communicated to Londoners, so they are aware of what the Mayor is doing to support all young Londoners. 
2.4.    The outcomes of this work are:
•    that the Mayor’s work is more effectively communicated to stakeholders and Londoners 
•    that young Londoners feel more engaged with the work of the Mayor.
 

3.1.    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the Mayor and GLA are subject to the public sector equality duty and must have due regard to the need to:
•    eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not. 
3.2.    The “protected characteristics” are age, disability, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and marriage/ civil partnership status. The duty involves having appropriate regard to these matters as they apply in the circumstances, including having regard to the need to: remove or minimise any disadvantage suffered by those who share or is connected to a protected; take steps to meet the different needs of such people; encourage them to participate in public life or in any other activity where their participation is disproportionately low. This can involve treating people with a protected characteristic more favourably than those without one.  
3.3.    London is a young city. Children and young people represent approximately a quarter of the capital’s population. London is also one of the most diverse cities in the world, and the extent of ethnic diversity across London boroughs varies significantly. Ten of London’s 33 boroughs have a majority non-White population, and there are more than 300 languages spoken in the city every day. The different youth engagement groups at the GLA were created with the purpose to amplify the voices of young Londoners. The groups represent the diversity of London’s youth population, coming from across the city. 
3.4.    Our youth engagement programmes such as POWs (Peer Outreach Workers) & Lynk Up Crew are designed to represent the often-unheard voices of children and young people aged seven to 24. Across our various programmes we have a good reflection of modern-day London and its diversity, with members of established groups as well as those children and young people who take part in events coming from a cross-section of different parts of London, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs. 
3.5.    The London Partnership Youth Board is also made up of a diverse group of young Londoners (aged 16-25) who are responsible for supporting the work of the London Recovery Board. Currently 90 per cent are from diverse backgrounds and life experiences; 20 per cent are care-experienced; and 30 per cent have special educational needs and disabilities. As with the POWs and the LynkUp Crew, the London Partnership Youth Board advocates for young Londoners, amplifying their voices and bringing their experiences to represent the diversity of London’s communities in supporting the work of the London Partnership Board, responding to current and future complex and cross-cutting challenges.
3.6.    The convening and partnership work of the team will help us engage with a diverse group of stakeholders in the sector. The communications work will help us ensure that we reach London's diverse populations through a range of platforms and approaches. 
3.7.    The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the cost-of-living crisis, have led to a permanent increase in demand for an updated narrative and evidence relating to children and young people, and health inequalities. The Senior Research and Statistical Analyst post will provide this, ensuring our work is of the highest quality and supported by evidence. 
 

Key risks and issues 

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities
4.1.    Youth engagement work directly supports the Mayor’s manifesto commitment to “ensure that the work City Hall is doing is communicated to young people in a clear and transparent way, involving young people in helping to design this.” The GLA’s youth engagement programmes and the London Partnership Youth Board helps embed youth voice in all policy, programmes and strategies in addressing London’s challenges; and provides strategic advice to policy and decision makers across the capital. 
4.2.    The work directly supports the Mayor's Free School Meals campaign. For example, the Lynk Up Crew is working closely with the programme team to produce content and share their views. This is contributing to establishing children's voices as a key partner, both at the GLA and beyond. 
4.3.    Another of the Mayor’s priorities for young Londoners is the New Deal for Young People. Youth engagement and participation work is embedded in the programme. For example, POWs are involved in the assessment of funding bids and help support on delivering events. 
4.4.    The Mayor’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Inclusive London (2018), includes a commitment to make London a great place to grow up in. The Mayor’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy objectives (published annually since 2018) that will meet this commitment include, for example, removing barriers that prevent children and young Londoners from realising their potential (Objective 7); and addressing inequalities in child health and wellbeing, including obesity and mental health (Objective 12). Youth groups, such as the POWs, provide strong youth voice, and influence policies, strategies and services, to ensure young Londoners are provided with opportunities to maximise their life chances. Some of the work the POWs have led includes events bringing young people from across the city together on issues such as mental health and wellbeing; School Superzones; and work undertaken by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime on missing children. 
4.5.    Aim one of the London Health Inequalities Strategy is “Healthy Children – every London child has a healthy start in life”. The strategy sets out four objectives to help achieve this aim: 
•    parents and carers are supported to give all London’s children the best possible start in life
•    early years settings and schools nurture the health and wellbeing of children and families, with programmes reaching the most vulnerable 
•    action is taken to help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight, with focused support for communities with high rates of child obesity
•    all of London’s children and young people have the support they need to grow into healthy, resilient adults.
Conflict of interest
4.6.    No conflicts of interest have been identified for any officers involved in the development of this proposal or drafting or clearance of this decision form.
 

5.1.    Approval is sought for:
•    expenditure of up to £100,000 in 2023-24 for convening and partnership activity to deliver comms and engagement. 
•    expenditure of up to £105,000 in 2023-24, and £105,000 in 2024-25, for youth engagement and participation with children and young people
•    receipt of up to approximately £10,000 in 2023-24, in external funding from organisations benefitting from youth engagement activity and from other GLA policy teams benefitting from youth engagement activity. This is salary recharge of Peer Outreach Workers’ time for work requested
•    receipt of up to £35,000 in the 2023-24 financial year from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) under section 120 and /or section 121 of the GLA Act.
5.2.    The expenditure of up to £100,000 in 2023-24 financial year will be funded from the Convening and Partnership budget in the Children and Young Londoners team.
5.3.    The expenditure of up to £105,000 in 2023-24 and £105,000 in 2024-25 financial year will be funded from the Engagement with Children and Young People programme budget.
5.4.    The receipt of up to £10,000 across 2023-24 and the receipt of up to £35,000 in 2023-24 financial year from MOPAC will be within the Engagement with Children and Young People programme budget.
5.5.    Future years’ budgets are indicative and subject to the GLA’s annual budget-setting process. This will be reflected in break clauses being included in any funding agreements. 
 

6.1.     The foregoing sections of this report indicate that the decisions requested of the Mayor concern the exercise of the GLA’s general powers and fall within the GLA’s statutory power to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conducive or incidental to the promotion of social development in Greater London and in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:
•    pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people
•    consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom
•    consult with appropriate bodies.    
6.2.    In taking the decisions requested, the Mayor must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, and to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation) and persons who do not share it and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Mayor should have regard to section three (above) of this report.
6.3.    The first two decisions, above, seek approval for expenditure of a total of £310,000. Officers are reminded to comply with the requirements of the Contracts and Funding Code, when they procure services or supplies or when award grant funding. Furthermore, officers are reminded to put in place appropriate contracts and grant agreements between the GLA and the relevant service providers and/or recipients. Finally, officers should ensure that all such contracts and grants include break clauses, lest any future mayoral administration decide not to proceed further with the projects.
6.4.    It should be noted that this decision relates only to the approval of budget although there is also reference to the creation of a Senior Research and Statistical Analyst post. Any staffing decisions that need to be made following this decision must be approved by the Head of Paid Service in accordance with the GLA Head of Paid Service Staffing Protocol and Scheme of Delegation. Furthermore, it is noted that expenditure is being sought for POWs who are casual pool workers (sessional workers) who complete monthly timesheets to record the hours that they work. These POWs are not GLA employees and the GLA should be mindful not to do anything in relation to these workers that may suggest that they are, in fact, employees of the GLA.
6.5.    The third decision seeks approval for the receipt of income from third party organisations. Officers are reminded to comply with any conditions, which those third-party organisations attach to their funding.
6.6.    The fourth decision seeks approval for the payment of a revenue grant by MOPAC to the GLA under section 121 of the Greater London Authority Act (1999) (the “GLA Act”).  As set out at paragraph 1.16, above, MOPAC has confirmed that it has sufficient budget to cover the revenue grant.  Accordingly, the Mayor may approve the grant, if he be so minded.  Finally, in accordance with section 121(3) of the GLA Act, officers are reminded that (a) no conditions may be placed upon the use of the grant by the GLA; (b) the GLA must use the grant for the purpose of the discharge of its functions; (c) the grant may not be used for capital expenditure.