I recently lost in a bit to gain a simple residential for a group of approximately 20 young people. Under normal circumstances I would put this down to price (I am not the cheapest) and simply have some slight concern that the group will not be getting the kind of service that they would if they came to me.
On this occassion I had put in much work locating accommodation (the group specifically requested central Wales as they are a Wales wide organisation), caterers as they wanted meals provided and activities (I do not usually offer activities in Mid Wales). When I asked the group to confirm the told me a group decision had been made and that I had come second out of a selection of 6 locations/companies.
I had come second to a centre which is not even in Mid Wales and will be a nightmare for those traveling from North Wales, but is situated the Urdd Centre in Llangrannog
This centre offers a wide range of vicarious activity including skiing, go-karting, quad biking, zip wire, toboggans, roller blading and pedal cars........
Had I known that I was up against this centre and that the young people were to make the choice of venue then I would not have bothered quoting. Of course the young people would go for the instant gratification of a quad or go kart over real youth work and a programme empowering them to run their own cave or gorge trip.
I sincerely question the bodies that fund these types of residentials. I also have to question what the personal development that they are looking for. In my experience a quad session for a youth group achieves nothing and of the activities listed above all are personal with none that can possible have genuine positive outcomes for either the group or the individual - except that it was a 'good laugh'.
Should EU or Welsh Assembly money be used for a 'good laugh'?
Should young people be so empowered as to be able to choose how this money is spent on their funded residentials?
I would say NO to both.
I think that youth work needs a shake up. Adventure provision also needs urgent revision. Young people need to be out there walking, camping and working as teams in the outdoors with competition, vicarious pleasure and individual activities being a small part of any trip. Read here my ideas and commitment to working in more constructive ways.
Oh well, another opportunity for youth LOST forever..... Another abuse of public funding..... will there never be appropriate policies in place that ensure structured and recordable positive outcomes for the use of grant funding?
extracts of emails follow.......







