Young People challenge 'devastating' Youth Service cuts
Young People in Devon are campaigning against “devastating cuts” to the county’s youth services.
The cuts could see 60 jobs lost and council support and management withdrawn from the county’s 34 youth centres.
Members of the UK Youth Parliament Devon with support from other groups have already mobilised a campaign against the proposed cuts with a petition to Devon County Council leader John Hart.
In a statement released today campaigners write: "Young people across Devon have started to take action in the face of devastating cuts which face their youth service.
“Over the next weeks, we hope to make it clear to decision makers in Devon County Council that we will not just accept the destruction of our youth service.
“We will challenge very decision which will have a negative impact on young people and their futures. The young people of Devon are not blind to the reasons behind this decision, it is because politicians feel that we will not challenge and accept the status quo, this is not the case.
Campaigners also argue that the long-term costs of the cuts will outweigh the short term savings made by the council as the youth service plays a “vital” role in providing health, well-being and employment advice.
The campaign launched by 16-year-old Youth Parliament member George Downs and 18-year-old youth volunteer Alfie Wheeler has already reached over 400 signatures in support on its petition to John Hart.
The council argue that the cuts are a change in approach from a universal to a more targeted service for the most vulnerable.
The council’s website states: “These proposed changes provide an opportunity for local community and voluntary sector organisations to build on the significant role they already play in supporting and providing activities for young people.
“During this consultation phase we are looking to work with a number of local communities as pathfinders to develop a new offer for young people.”
The Council has already launched the first stage of its public consultation for the service in the form of an online questionnaire and has public meetings slated to begin in March.
Cabinet member with the responsibility for the youth Service, Will Mumford, said: “We’ve already had a number of meetings with young people, our staff and voluntary and community groups to talk about how we might proceed.
“We are particularly keen to work with local communities during the consultation to develop a new offer for young people for which the county council might be able to provide some initial support.”
The council has said that extra savings have had to be made due the rising costs of child and adult protection which has increased by £17.4 million.
This is due in part to the ongoing re-structuring of the Child protection services following a report by Ofsted which found the council’s service ‘inadequate’.
The petition by the youth service campaigners is available here
the online consulation form is available here
