Welcome to the Integrated Youth Support web pages. Here you can find out more about the working plan (strategy) that has been set up to help improve services for young people across Leicester.
What is Integrated Youth Support?
Integrated Youth Support (IYS) is the name given to the Government’s approach to youth policy. It’s about ensuring that the right services and support are available to all young people at the right time, to meet their needs and support their progression into adulthood.
It is part of the One Leicester priority to invest in children and young people’s present and future. Our vision is that an Integrated Youth Support (IYS) Strategy should contribute to:
- Accessible and attractive services – for all young people
- Comprehensive and inclusive support – according to their needs and their development
- Evidence based use of resources – working where it matters most >
- Evidence based use of resources – working where it matters most
- Integrated and effective delivery – working well together and demonstrating a difference
The idea and the challenge we face is to work together to improve the life opportunities for all children and young people, by making sure young people can easily find out about the full range of opportunities and support open to them.
Integrated Youth Support focuses on young people aged 13–19, but also covers young people up to the age of 25 who have learning difficulties or disabilities, or who are in the care system.
Integrated Youth Support recognises that there are some services and support which all young people should have access to (sometimes known as universal services), but that there should also be extra help for young people who need it most (this is known as targeted youth support).
The Government has asked local councils to develop an Integrated Youth Support Strategy (IYSS) to set out how services and support can be organised, managed and delivered to young people.
An IYSS does not necessarily mean we need to create new services, but it does mean we will look at how services work together and how, by working together, they will deliver better support to young people.
Want to know more? Read our frequently asked questions.
