Reading's Youth Offer

Our Vision is for Reading to be a place where all young people are valued and respected, with a voice to be heard , with things to do and places to go.

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The Youth Offer for Reading will address the needs of all young people in Reading, including those from minority groups and those who need additional support in accessing things to do and places to go.

An important group who cross all areas in this report are those young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.  In accordance with Section 17 (10) (11) of the Children Act 1989 and under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, a child’s disability is described under the following categories:

Physical disability; learning disability; profound multiple learning disability; communications difficulties; developmental delay; registered blind or partially sighted; registered deaf or hearing impaired.
By recognising the importance of this group at an early stage we can ensure their needs are met throughout the Youth Offer both through provision, accessibility and contestability.

All young people in Reading are entitled to access a wide range of leisure time educational and recreational activities. They all have the right to:

• Access to 2 hours per week of sporting activity. Within the revised offer this will become 3 hours of leisure time sporting activity (with a further 2 hours during school time)
• Access to 2 hours per week of other constructive activities.
• Opportunities to make a positive contribution to their community.
• Participate in a wide range of other recreational, cultural sporting and enriching experiences. This offer is being reviewed and will become more specifically 5 hours of cultural activity both educationally and in leisure time. Further details are to be released.
• Access to a range of safe and enjoyable places in which to spend time.

It is estimated that in Reading 60% of young people spend over 1 hour participating in some form of positive activity (33% spend 1-2 hours and 27% spend more than 2 hours). Reading Things to Do, Places to Go research 2007.

We believe that all young people have the right to be valued and respected, and the right to a voice which can influence and shape the range of activities and services that are on offer.

We will continue to work together in partnership across the Council and with Voluntary agencies and the private sector to develope and enhance our offer to young people.

We will also continue to integrate with the extended schools programme.

For detailed information on specific service areas, please follow the links on the left of this page.