Agenda item

Billie Leigh and Luke provided an update on the ‘Next Venture Fund’ which is an allocation of £10,000 per annum from DCCs CEO to develop ideas to improve outcomes for care leavers (for copy of presentation see file of minutes). 

The Panel heard that the Steering Group established a Panel of young people, representative of care leavers. The aim of the programme is to fund projects which meet key themes which include reducing loneliness; create opportunities; promote good mental wellbeing and inclusivity.  The Steering Group allocates funding by applying the criteria whilst the Service Manager for Safeguarding and Professional Practice has overall responsibility for the budget. The Steering Group hold regular meetings with the Children’s Services Senior Management Team to report on progress and fund beneficiaries are requested to provide examples of the impact of the funding.  The vision for the future is that the project will seed other opportunities and build sustainability.

The Head of Children’s Social Care congratulated the young people on their hard work to bring the project to fruition. She highlighted that the Chief Executive had requested that the young people use the opportunity to expand their governance and financial management knowledge. The young people had exceeded expectations and were demonstrating strong financial stewardship and due diligence.