Somerset County Youth Service

Somerset County Youth Service (SCYS) is part of the SCC Children and Young People’s Directorate and has a clear purpose and values and a priority age range of 13-19 years which is extended to 11-25 years where appropriate.

Youth Work is delivered in a number of settings including outreach and detached work. In total, the statutory Service supports approximately 100 regular delivery points across the County including a range of project based and inter-agency work. The Service also operates The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award licence on behalf of Somerset County Council and supports schools in this regard.

A number of partnerships are in place including those with Somerset Youth Partnership (SYP) (an umbrella body for 26 voluntary youth organisations); Somerset Rural Youth Project; Youth Offending Team; Health Authority; District, Town and Parish Councils; Avon and Somerset Constabulary; Social Services and Schools/Colleges.

We have a Partnership Agreement with Connexions Somerset and the Somerset County Youth Service is represented on the Connexions Somerset Board.

Our 2002 OFSTED inspection report confirmed SCYS as a good service which is value for money. Reference was made several times to the commitment and enthusiasm of our staff. Some youth work was described as “inspirational”. In 2005 the Service obtained Investors in People (IiP) status.