ASCEL: Libraries and co-productionClaire Styles:Programme ManagerThe Reading Agency

Project aims:

• Support libraries to develop year-round youth co-production built on libraries’ Universal Reading Offer (URO);

• Identify partnership opportunities with Bridges and arts organisations;

• Increase awareness of relevant accreditation schemes and funding opportunities.

Why develop a year-round offer? Benefits for libraries:

• Engages the library users of the future• Benefits young people; develops skills and

community engagement• Increases capacity to run key activities• Contributes to community cohesion• Raises library profile as a volunteer provider• Helps libraries meet statutory duty

Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities

• Connect young people with their communities, enabling them to contribute to society, including through volunteering;

• Have a voice in decisions which affect their lives; • Opportunities to take part in activities;• Support personal and social development to build

the capabilities they need for learning, work, and the transition to adulthood.

Why prioritise young people now?

• 17.5 million under 25s in the UK today• 21.9% of under 25s unemployed• 40% of young people volunteer • 88% of youth media stories are negative

Recession impacts disadvantaged disproportionately:• 70% of excluded pupils have poor basic literacy.• People with poor literacy least likely to be employed at 30• Reading for pleasure is the only out-of-school activity for

16s linked to securing managerial/ professional jobs

Benefits to young people

• New skills and experience• For CV for education/ employment

Recognition/ accreditation • Work experience • To meet new people/ for fun • To give something back• Incentives

Libraries’ youth volunteers, 2012• 4,375 Summer Reading Challenge volunteers• 728 Reading Activists running 24 hubs• 950 World Book Night book givers

Book selectionDesign library spacesHelp with Under 5s Book reviewsBook awardsWork experienceMood boosting books

Reading groups Manga clubs Get It LoudLibrary consultationMagazine projectsSix Book ChallengeBookswaps

Steering groupsFriends groupsFundraisingIntergenerational Film clubsYoung InspectorsPerformances

Universal Library Offer

Free Community Space

Online access/Virtual Services

Expert Advice and Support

Free Books

Multimedia Reading Resources

Community Outreach Services

Reading Offer

Local and family history resources

Learning space and support

Information and signposting

Targeted audiences (families, CYP, Older people)

Reading promotions

Reading challenges for adults and children

Author event / performances

Bookgifting

Public involvement/

Coproduction

Information /sign posting

Accessibility Services

Online reading, resources and activites

Targeted activities for specific audiences e.g. ethnic

Summer Reading Challenge

Six Book Challenge

TRA Reading Promotions Programme

Reading Groups for Everyone including Chatterbooks

BBC

Reading Partners

Partnerships

Programme

Health and Well Being Hook

Summer Reading Challenge

Bookstart Week

Learning Hook

World Book Day/World Book Night

Calendar hooks

Programme

Black history month

National library day

National story telling week

Local history month

Older people day

Carers Week

National RG Day

Make noise in libraries

Calendar Hooks

Art org

Health

Schools

Literature Festivals

Readers Days

Local Launch Events

TV Book Club

Local

Reading

Service

SCL Prioritised Toolbox Enhanced Offer Toolbox

Bookstart and BookTime

Letterbox Club

Premier League Reading Stars

Partnerships

Local Activities

Mood Boosting Books

Quick Reads

Charities e.g. RNIB, Booktrust

Booked Up

Other Programmes TBC

Innovation & Development

Shared evidence bank

Innovationns

Evidence

Digital

Health

Co-production: Young people/My Voice

Training to support the URO

Workforce Developments

Reading groups and social reading activities

Calendar hooks

First hooks: World Book Day/ Night

• Join the Book Herd – WBD/N ambassadors• Social networking and website teen resources

written by young volunteers• ‘Party pack’ of ideas being produced• to become book givers• Teen-friendly titles

Co-production

- Approach underpinningVolunteering

- Characteristics of co-production?

Co-production means…

“… delivering public services in an equal and reciprocal relationship between professionals, people using services, their families and their neighbours. Where activities are co-produced in this way, both services and neighbourhoods become far more effective agents of change.”*

(*Right here, right now: taking co-production into the mainstream, NESTA; July 2010)

Features of co-production:• Recognising people as assets• Building on people’s existing capabilities• Mutuality and reciprocity• Peer support networks• Blurring distinctions• Facilitating rather than delivering*(*Right here, right now: taking co-production into the mainstream, NESTA; July 2010)

Volunteering: plan and sustain

Involving Young People in Advisory Groups – Flow Chart

Can you answer these questions?

- Can you explain the purpose of young peoples’ involvement?

-Will it make a difference?

-Do young people want to get involved?

-Can you resource and support the group?

-Will you act on young people’s recommendations?

- Are you willing to give up some power?

Do you know why you are setting up a young

people’s advisory group?

Yes

No

Having thought about it and talked to young people and your organisation do you now know why you want involve young people?

Will it make a difference?

-Do young people want to get involved?

-Can you resource and support the group?

-Will you listen and act on young people’s

recommendations?it make a difference?

-Do young people want to get involved?

-Can you resource and support the group?

-Will you listen and act on young people’s

Are you clear?

This might not be the right time to

involve young people

Yes No

Now there are more things you to think about: How will you recruit young people? How will you make sure young people with additional needs can get involved? How will you make sure the group is open and new members are able to join? How will you support the young people find out the views of their peers? How will you promote the young peoples’ power and influence? How canyou make sure people from across your organisation are convinced of the need to change?

This is not the right thing for your

organisation and young people at

the moment

No

Yes

AccreditationAward Age/

ability Partners Time to

achieve award Content External

requirements How assessed?

Approximate costs

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Age 14-25 highly motivated.

Schools Youth service

12-18 months Volunteering: library volunteer. Skills: Taking part in library activities e.g. reading groups

Expedition: N/A to libraries.

No cost for library service

Youth Achievement/ Challenge

Age 11-19 Any ability

Youth work partners

30-120hrs. 6-15hrs for a Challenge

Any library based activity can be counted towards Awards aligned to YP needs/ interests

None £48 p/a to register. £5-11.20 per YP. £130 staff training.

Getting Connected

Age 14-25 Suitable for NEET YP.

Youth worker; school learning mentor, PRU.

120hrs for a Profile of Achievement 30hrs per unit

Units on Using Information, Getting and Giving Support are particularly relevant to library activities

Exploring Risks and Coping with Feelings more appropriate to youth workers.

£20 per YP plus £8 per unit. £350 staff training - optional

ASDAN Activities

Age 13-19 Any ability

Youth work partners

10-60 hours (Usually 30 hrs for the Award)

Any library-based activity can be counted. Awards aligned to YP’s needs & interests

None £58.75 to register; £4.75 per YP; £79 staff training.

V50 and other vinspired awards

Age 14-25 Any ability. England only

Cabinet Office

Ideally within 12 months.

Volunteering: YP volunteer for 10hrs (v10), 50hrs (v50) 100hrs (v100). Hrs logged online or by mobile app. Once hrs completed, YP receive certificate.

None V100 needs a referee.

None. Organisations can advertise opportunities on the site too.

Arts Award

Age 7-25 Arts Council England/ Trinity

No time limit. Gold- 90hrs; Silver - 60hrs; Bronze - 40hrs Explore - 25hrs; Discover -20hrs

Creative - Any art or media activity can count towards an Arts Award.

None Portfolios assessed by a moderator.

Adviser training 95-£110; YP’s materials £3-£6 Moderation & certificates: £2.50-£32

Fundraising and collaboration

• Youth Voice funds• National Citizenship

Service• vCashpoint• O2 ThinkBig• European Youth

Programme

Using the URO as a framework, plan a year-round youth volunteer offer

Consider: • Volunteer role(s) for each hook• Who you will work with• How you could involve young people• Timescales and milestones• Resource implications• Next steps

“Before being involved in Reading Activists, I would never have dreamed I could help organize author events or interview people, I would have been really scared and worried. There’s so many skills I’ve learnt, and things it’s opened me up to do, and I’m much better at reading now, and more confident all round. Having Padgate Library with Reading Activist opportunities stops kids hanging around on the street, and gets them to see what libraries can do for them”. Tom Hotson, 15, Reading Activist, Warrington