Partners identified a shared ambition to develop a city centre hub where services could work together more effectively and provide a single point of access for young people.
Introduction
Swansea Council successfully secured funding through the Assets Collaboration Programme Wales Phase 3 (ACPW3) to recruit a dedicated Project Manager to lead the development of a Children and Young People’s City Centre Hub. The proposed Hub will bring together a range of public and third-sector services within a single city centre location, creating a more coordinated and accessible service offer for young people aged 11 to 25. The funded Project Manager post has provided the dedicated capacity needed to progress this complex multi-agency project and establish the foundations for future delivery.
The challenge
A range of organisations across Swansea provide support to children and young people, including Youth Justice, CAMHS, homelessness services, substance misuse support and youth work services. However, these services have traditionally operated from different locations, creating fragmented referral pathways and making it difficult for young people to access joined-up support.
Partners identified a shared ambition to develop a city centre hub where services could work together more effectively and provide a single point of access for young people. Achieving this required significant partnership working, governance arrangements, operational planning and stakeholder engagement. Prior to receiving ACPW3 funding, there was limited dedicated resource available to coordinate this work across multiple organisations.
The approach
ACPW3 funding enabled Swansea Council to appoint a dedicated Project Manager to drive the project forward. Working on behalf of Swansea Council and project partners, the Project Manager has focused on:
- Establishing a multi-agency collaboration framework.
- Coordinating regular partnership meetings involving public and third-sector organisations.
- Developing governance arrangements and a future collaboration agreement.
- Facilitating stakeholder engagement and co-production activities with young people.
- Developing the strategic foundations required to support future capital investment and delivery of the Hub.
The role has acted as a single point of coordination between partners, helping to maintain momentum, manage competing priorities and ensure all organisations remain engaged in the development process
Contributes towards
This project contributes towards:
- Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
- More effective use of public assets through collaborative planning and future co-location.
- Stronger partnership working between public and third-sector organisations.
- Improved outcomes for children and young people through integrated service delivery.
- Creation of social value through engagement and co-production with young people.
- A more sustainable and collaborative public sector estate.
Impacts and outcomes
The ACPW3-funded Project Manager has delivered several important outcomes that have moved the project from concept towards delivery.
Key achievements include:
- Establishing regular multi-agency partnership meetings to support project development.
- Strengthening relationships between Swansea Council, Swansea Bay University Health Board, YMCA, Barod, South Wales Police and other key stakeholders.
- Progressing the development of a collaboration framework and governance structure.
- Producing the foundations of an operational delivery plan.
- Creating a strong platform for future investment and implementation of a collaborative city centre facility.
Importantly, the project has demonstrated how a relatively small revenue investment in dedicated project management capacity can unlock collaboration between multiple organisations and accelerate the development of a shared approach to service delivery
Lessons learnt and future planning
What worked well
- Providing dedicated project management capacity created clear ownership and accountability for progressing the project.
- Regular partner meetings helped maintain momentum and improved communication across organisations.
- Early engagement with stakeholders allowed partners to shape the project collectively and build shared ownership of future outcomes.
Challenges
- Coordinating multiple organisations with different governance structures, priorities and decision-making processes can take time.
- Developing formal collaboration arrangements requires continued commitment and input from all partners.
- Maintaining momentum across a large multi-agency project requires consistent communication and coordination.
Future planning
The work completed through the ACPW3-funded Project Manager role has established the foundations for the future delivery of the Children and Young People’s City Centre Hub. Partners will continue to develop governance arrangements, operational models and collaborative working practices that support the future co-location of services and more effective use of public assets within Swansea city centre.
The project demonstrates how strategic investment in project management capacity can help remove barriers to collaboration and support the development of innovative, integrated public services
