Award

Youth Services

THE MAYOR AND COMMONALTY AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF LONDON

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

11 Nov 2025 at 11:33

Tender

21 Aug 2025 at 09:06

Planning

03 Jun 2025 at 15:49

Summary of the contracting process

The City of London Corporation has awarded a contract for Youth Services, aiming to deliver a comprehensive needs-led, inclusive service for children and young people. This award, announced on 11th November 2025, follows a successful open tender process which concluded with the selection of the Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust as the supplier. The Youth Services programme, encompassing welfare services aimed at ages 8 to 19 (or up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities), will span across the City of London and adjacent estates with provisions at locations like Golden Lane and Portsoken Community Centres. The contract, valued at around £930,526.88 gross, will commence on 1st April 2026 and may extend up to 31st March 2031. The approach reflects a light touch regime under the service category, focusing on local implementation and community needs.

This opportunity provides substantial growth prospects for businesses operating in the social services sector, particularly those specialising in youth welfare, educational guidance, and community engagement. The contract encourages collaboration with community groups and educational services, offering an avenue for businesses that value partnership and flexible service delivery methods. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as organisations with a strong social value component, will find the structure of this tender aligns well with their operational capabilities, especially those with a focus on personalised and inclusive service approaches. The scope and longevity of the contract provide a stable foundation for businesses looking to establish a long-term presence in the public sector youth services space.

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Notice Title

Youth Services

Notice Description

The City of London Corporation is awarding a needs-led, inclusive and flexible youth and play service that reflects the priorities and lived experiences of local children, young people, and families. The service will support children and young people aged 8-19 (up to 25 for those with SEND or who are care-experienced) through a coordinated mix of universal and targeted provision. The service must offer safe, welcoming spaces delivered locally and in ways that work for young people. Provision should be age-appropriate, engaging, and co-designed with young people, with an emphasis on supporting personal development, wellbeing, and life skills through meaningful, fun, and relevant activities. The service will also ensure that young people with additional needs, including those with EHCPs or who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), can access tailored support. Partnership and joined up delivery will be key, including with schools, health services, local community groups, and other City of London commissioned services. The provider will be expected to work in close collaboration with these stakeholders to reduce duplication, improve coordination, and strengthen early help pathways, aligning where possible with the City's emerging Family Hub model. The scope includes delivery across three integrated service areas: * Universal Youth & Play (UY&P). * Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG). * Youth Participation and Voice. 1. Universal Youth and Play (UY&P) Target Group: Children and young people aged 8-19 (up to 25 with SEND), living in the City of London and adjacent estates. Delivery Locations: Golden Lane and Portsoken Community Centres, delivered on a drop-in basis. Service Description: This strand offers open-access, inclusive provision where young people can take part in a variety of structured and informal activities that align with core youth work principles. The aim is to provide inclusive, engaging, and developmental opportunities that help young people achieve their potential. Aims of the service: * Provide safe, inclusive spaces for young people's development as per the National Youth Work Curriculum. * Base delivery on the National Occupational Standards for youth work. * Offer varied activities promoting youth voice, wellbeing, inclusion, life skills, creative arts, sports, life skills and workshops, etc. * Ensure fair treatment and accessible, inclusive services for all young people. * Use diverse approaches to meet young people's varied needs, including universal, targeted, outreach, and digital methods. * Increase engagement and support young people in exploring their identity and improving their health and wellbeing. 2. Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Target Group: Young people aged 13-19 (up to 25 for those with SEND or additional needs). Service Description: The IAG strand provides impartial guidance and personalised support for young people making decisions about education, employment, and training. A particular focus is placed on those with Learning Difficulties/Disabilities (LDD) or other additional needs such as autism or mental health challenges. Aims of the service: * Supports young people in accessing apprenticeships, education, and employment. * Provides tailored assistance, including CV writing, interview preparation, and additional learning support. * Participates in transition and annual reviews (Year 9-12). * Contributes to the young person's Education, Health & Care Plan. * Tracks 16 and 17-year-olds who are not participating in education or training (Zero NEET Target). * Attends quarterly contract monitoring meetings and provides meaningful data. 3. Youth Participation Target Group: Children and young people aged 8-25 who live in or are connected to the City of London. Service Description: Youth Participation is facilitated through a City Youth Forum. The City of London Corporation recognises the significance of residents' input in the development of services. The Department strives to ensure that the communities it serves are consulted and provided with opportunities to co-produce the services delivered to them. The CYF is designed to offer these opportunities to young people through creative and innovative methods, enabling meaningful engagement and enhancing participation. Aims of the service: * Elect a Youth Parliament Member to represent local and national levels. * Create opportunities for youth to shape services and be active in their community. * Develop young people's leadership and campaigning opportunities. * Support skill development in communication, public speaking, debating, and negotiation. * Support young people to create issue-focused manifestos and campaign on issues that matter to them. * Offer different levels of involvement (e.g. Consultant, Forum Member, or Leader. * Facilitate regular City Youth Forum meetings.

Planning Information

Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) PME in this case is where the City, at an early stage in the development of its proposals, but prior to formulating any formal procurement opportunity, seeks input from the market as to what might be the most attractive way of packaging and scoping a future procurement opportunity. This exercise will provide an opportunity for the City to obtain insight into how participants might approach the delivery of the service in question. It also gives a useful early insight into the likely level of interest in a proposed project from that market. Participants must also note that a response to this notice does not guarantee an invitation to participate in this or any future procurement that the City may conduct, nor that the City will procure any such supplies and services or accept any proposals offered. Any Procurement of supplies and services by the City will be carried out strictly in accordance with the Procurement Act (PA23). The City has developed a questionnaire (attached at the end of this document) that they would like interested parties to complete. As stated above, the outcome of the PME exercise will inform an options appraisal with recommendations. please complete the questionnaire attached to the link below and return. https://cityoflondon.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052bd7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072715-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£775,439 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Nov 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
19 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
24 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
22 Oct 20256 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE MAYOR AND COMMONALTY AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF LONDON
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CITY OF LONDON
Postcode
EC2P 2EJ
Post Town
Central London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI43 Haringey and Islington
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Islington
Electoral Ward
Clerkenwell
Westminster Constituency
Islington South and Finsbury

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

COVENT GARDEN DRAGON HALL TRUST

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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