Monica Gaga, Team Manager at Hillingdon Council, began her journey with the council as a young person accessing its services. She started volunteering at 16 and was supporting youth project delivery by 18. A decade later, she’s now part of the management team leading the council’s Youth Offer.
Previously, Hillingdon’s youth services were delivered through a variety of programmes based in purpose-built youth centres. In March 2023, the council’s Youth Cabinet approved a public consultation on a proposed new youth vision. Feedback revealed several access barriers, including mental health challenges, travel costs and neurodiversity-related needs.
Following consultation with children and young people, Hillingdon Council commissioned the National Youth Agency (NYA) to co-develop a sustainable, evidence-based youth strategy.
“The NYA has the knowledge to legitimise the work we’re doing,” Monica said. “We wanted to get it right for the long term, to better meet the needs of our community.”
“As someone who grew up in Hillingdon, I know how vital Youth Services are – but people don’t always know what’s available,” she explained, “The new strategy focuses on visibility – using social media, advertising, and building an online directory to help people access support.”
Monica and the wider management team worked closely with Esther Horner-Aird, NYA’s Strategic Youth Voice Lead, to co-produce the strategy. Esther’s expertise helped shape a vision that fulfilled the Section 507B statutory guidance for delivering a local youth offer.
“Working with someone external provided us with the opportunity for review and reflection and Esther guided these discussions by asking questions and prompting us to think about things,” Monica noted.
The new strategy established nine priorities based on a needs analysis and brought together partners from the voluntary, community and faith sectors. It created a five-year roadmap and built-in evaluation metrics to track progress.
A shift to a more community-based model now sees youth work delivered across Hillingdon Council’s wards in various places and spaces, including schools, libraries, community buildings and green spaces.
Workforce development is a central pillar. Monica is currently completing a Level 6 Youth Work Degree Apprenticeship with Capita, the online training provider. The strategy has also helped guide recruitment and goal setting for new colleagues.
“It’s our roadmap – it gives us the bigger picture and will support funding bids,” Monica said.
“We’ve been quietly accessing the NYA’s services,” Monica said. “Now we’re fully embracing the training and resources. This is the beginning of a long-term relationship.”
Her advice to other councils? “Understand your users, use data, prioritise co-production, embed youth voice, and stay open to change.”
“With the new strategy, we’re reaching the right people in the right places. The NYA helped shape our vision, aligned with government guidance. We highly recommend them.”
Hillingdon Council have since re–launched their Youth Offer, alongside a new TikTok channel and ‘NextGen’ marketing campaign, which promotes a modern, relevant, and flexible programme of digital and face-to-face services for children aged 8 to 19 (and up to 24 for those with special educational needs and disabilities). Designed to meet young people where they are, Hillingdon Youth Offer provides accessible support which complements wider early help and prevention services. It makes use of council buildings, family hubs, and increased street-based and outreach work, while expanding the number and flexibility of services to enhance personal, social, and educational development, to improve the overall wellbeing of local young people.
Monica Gaga,
Team Manager at Hillingdon Council
Photo credit © Hillingdon Council
