Knowsley Youth Mutual

Knowsley’s youth services have officially launched as an employee and young people led mutual, the first in the region.

Knowsley Youth Mutual (KYM) has ‘spun out’ from local authority control, to become an employee and young person owned Community Benefit Society. KYM will continue to provide universal open access youth provision, award programmes, peer education and volunteering, outdoor education, engagement and participation, as well as specialist support and intervention schemes.

As a social enterprise, KYM will be able to access a variety of funding sources and trade its services on the open market, allowing it to generate income. In addition, it will be able to invest any profit it makes back into youth service provision. The employee and young people owned mutual was established to protect Knowsley’s youth offer and youth service jobs, from cuts to local government funding.

Sandra Richardson, KYM Chief Executive, said 

"I am overwhelmed by the numbers of young people celebrating the launch of KYM; this is such an exciting time for us all and I want to thank the best staff team ever, who have shown enthusiasm, bravery and commitment to establish KYM. Thanks also to Cllr Eddie Connor, Elected Members and Officers of KMBC who have supported us throughout. We couldn't have hoped for a better start"

Over 400 people attended the KYM launch event, held at OurPlace Youth Facility in Huyton, where more than 350 young people enjoyed activities including skate park exhibition, live music from local bands, graffiti wall artists, fire-eaters and stilt walkers!

Macie Campbell aged 12 from Huyton who attended the event, said

"The launch of KYM is really exciting. I've been coming to OurPlace since it opened and we do brilliant, fun things with the Youth Workers. It’s great that it’s going to continue and will be bigger and better.".