Purpose

The Youth Service Vision will build upon work already underway through Newham Sparks. Capital investment is sought to develop and expand the technical and data infrastructure capabilities across the Boroughs portfolio of 8 Youth Zones and the newly opened COVE supporting our Care Leavers

This investment into digital and data resources will serve as a comprehensive resource hub for young people, offering information, learning opportunities, resources, skills development, entrepreneurship, career guidance, networking, and support across various aspects of their lives.

The installation of immersive spaces (VR/AR/XR) across these spaces for our young people will support the provision of accessible technology and address digital exclusion, enabling young people, including those with SEND, Care Experienced and most marginalised, to be positioned, supported and proactively engaged with opportunities emerging in Newham related to the developing tech/data industry.

Youth Zones will become beacon constituents of LBN Data Centres. This capital programme will also enable additional mobile delivery programme linked to the Zones and provide agile provision to ensure those not accessing physical buildings, have equitable access to development through technology. Mobile programmes will be delivered in parks, estates and other open spaces through our street based youth work teams.

The Capital investment will also support the further development of a Universal Digital Zone Utilising Cloud Technology which will support Borough wide innovative digital programmes promoting collaboration spaces and increase opportunities for more young people to further develop their digital skills.   

Decision

Decision:

For the reasons set out in the report and its appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree:

i)  The capital funding of £900,000 over a nine-year period, as set out in section 8 of this report.

ii)  That capital funding to be distributed in 2023/24 is £100,000 to substantially upgrade the digital and data offer available for young people through Newham’s Youth Zones. The following years will be distributed as set out in 8.1.

Alternatives Considered

a)  Option 1: Do Nothing

·  22% of Newham’s children and young people live in poverty, with 38% of pupils eligible for free school meals against a London average of 28% and children and young people who are not in education or employment is greater than the London average. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the factors leading to poverty and inequality in health and educational outcomes. The additional disproportionate impact the pandemic has had upon Newham’s diverse communities has further amplified issues that previously existed and accelerated them into sharp focus. This was specifically evidenced throughout the pandemic and further illuminated a distinct digital divide which continues to detrimentally impact and disadvantage our youngest residents.

·  If this investment into resources for our young people is not secured, young people will not have free access to resources to support their ICT/Technical learning and development outside of school hours and the digital divide will continue.

·  We will not be able to support Priority 3 BAFN by placing resources, which will be free at the point of contact, within their communities supporting our15-minute neighbourhood ambition for all, which includes our youngest residents, many of whom are already disadvantaged by digital poverty which detrimentally impacts their future career opportunities.

·  The 2018 and subsequent 2022 Manifesto specifically sets out the aspiration for Newham to become the best place to grow and to provide the best start in life for its youngest residents.

·  “All young people should be supported within an environment that enables them to reach their potential and be safe, healthy and happy regardless of their background; with good educational outcomes, careers and to feel secure about their futures.”

·  Failure to invest in the digital infrastructure of the newly expanded Youth Zones will miss a key opportunity to utilise the significant learning potential that our young people have outside of the school setting.

·  Unlike their counterparts in more affluent communities, digital inequality is a significant factor for many of our young people growing up in Newham. With little or no access to the technology which couldlevel the playing field for them outside of the school setting, they currently experience a detrimental impact upon their opportunity to confidently pursue careers in Newham’s developing sectors. This lack of investment in out of school resource, will compound generational poverty and fail to break the cycle of inequality and opportunity for young people who are our greatest asset.