| AdminHistory | The Adult Education and Youth Sub-Committee was appointed in June 1963. Its members comprised six from the Education Committee (including the committee Chairman as ex officio member), eight chosen by the Birmingham Branch of the Standing Conference of Voluntary Youth Organisations, two appointed by the Federation of British Industry and two teachers plus four other interested persons nominated by the rest of the Adult Education and Youth Sub-Committee. It had been resolved to enlarge the responsibilities of the Youth Sub-Committee (see BCC/1/BH/20/1) to include its present work in addition to taking over the youth work and other leisure time adult education currently administered by the Further Education Sub-Committee (see BCC/1/BH/4/1).
In terms of youth policy the main functions of the sub-committee were to consider appointments to community organisations and associations, voluntary or paid, and consider other staffing matters such as training and salaries; issues relating to the buildings and facilities of youth organisations across the city; requests for letting accommodation to groups and organisations; issues relating to the general maintenance and security of premises leased or owned by such groups; and grant applications made by youth groups upon the recommendations of the Youth Grants Sub-Committee (see BCC 1/BH/21/2). It also appointed visitors to visit youth groups, who in turn reported back to the sub-committee on areas relating to the organisation such as the condition of building, facilities, staffing and financial resources.
The sub-committee took its cue from the first Albermarle Report, which was published in 1960 in response to surveys carried out during the 1950s that highlighted the lack of out-of-school recreational activities for young people across the United Kingdom. The report showed growing alienation on the part of young people with existing facilities, with increasing numbers of teenagers leaving youth clubs run by religious organisations, and corresponding fears of increasing levels of juvenile delinquency. At the first meeting of the Adult Education and Youth Sub-Committee it was noted that: 'The Youth Service should be available for all young people aged 14 to 20 inclusive', and a distinction was made between maintained (i.e. Council run) youth clubs or recreative centres and independent organisations (for example, those run by the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and the St John's Ambulance).
Additionally, the Bessey Report of 1962 emphasised the line taken by the Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organisations that there was a basic common element of training appropriate for all youth leaders whether paid or voluntary. The sub-committee maintained a commitment to establishing common training agencies to consider any matters arising relating to the training, term of office and filling of casual vacancies for all staff. By the early 1970s the sub-committee began to take an interest in allowing young people who already attended youth clubs to take a more active organisational role in their groups, and in January 1974 it was agreed that a Youth Leader Training course for senior members course be established to 'enable young adults (17 - 21 years) to attain some basic Leadership skills' for this purpose.
Inadequate provision of youth activities had already been noted in certain areas of Birmingham such as Billesley and Yardley Wood. By the mid 1960s proposals were considered for new buildings for the Birmingham Athletics Institute, the Highgate Community Youth Centre and the Drama Centre. In 1963 the sub-committee had already brgun to look into the establishment of communal administrative accommodation based in the city centre for voluntary organisations displaced by current and future renovation and reconstruction work on existing premises.
With regard to the provision of leisure time adult education activities the sub-committee continued the work previously undertaken by the Further Education Sub-Committee. It referred largely to the reports of its visitors and the Chief Education Officer, and considered all matters relating to the buildings, staffing, syllabus and funding of courses held for adults at Birmingham's Further Education Colleges and affiliated institutions. By 1964 Bournville College of Further Education, amongst others, was organising English classes for immigrant nurses to help integrate increasing numbers of migrants from Britain's former colonies during the post-war period, many of whom eventually found employment in the public and service sector. Staff were also appointed at colleges to act a point of contact for members of Birmingham's immigrant communities studying adult education courses; Aston and Handsworth Institute of Higher Education appointed a Lecturer with Special Responsibility for Communities of Commonwealth Origin in 1973.
The Principals and Vice-Principals of Birmingham's Institutes of Further Education met at a seminar on 7 - 8 June 1973 to consider the findings of the Russell Report published that year. The report comprised a development plan for improving the provision of Further Education provision nationwide, focussing on improving levels of adult literacy and improving access to qualifications for socially disadvantaged groups such as 'early leavers' from secondary schools, immigrants and the disabled, taking into consideration official studies such as the Vernon Report, 1972, which focussed on the visually impaired. This would be achieved by overhauling the system of staff training and provision in Further Education Colleges and other institutions, as well as reassessing funding structures. The report aimed to approach 'groups which may be assisted in special tasks' such as mothers who wished to start a playgroup or parents with disabled children, and others affected by 'changing roles in individual and social life'. The report also hoped public awareness would be increased about disadvantaged groups in the community and their needs. Increased funding was approved to carry out these initiatives for the financial year 1974 - 1975.
The Adult Education and Youth Sub-Committee was disbanded at the conclusion of its final meeting in March 1974. |