More cuts to Derbyshire Youth Services

Sir,
Yet again we see the government’s cuts to services hitting those least able to defend or speak for themselves. This time the axe falls on young people and their Youth Services.
This hapless County Council are having to push through ridiculous “savings” at a time when we need more investment in our youth, not less. Youth unemployment is still rising, jobs are scarce, and the very service that seeks to support our future is cut away.
The community and voluntary sector have always provided services for young people and where they are successful they should be rightly applauded and supported. However, community and voluntary organisations are themselves facing enormous financial pressures and can never ensure a comprehensive service that meets the needs of all our young people in all of our communities. Where youth services have been handed entirely to the community and voluntary sector, such as in Northamptonshire, we have seen disastrous results.
Quite simply, removal of local authority youth service provision is not the answer. We need quality local authority services to work hand in hand with the community and voluntary sector if we are to support our young people.
Unfortunately at a time of record youth unemployment, sky high tuition fees and the abolition of EMA it appears as though too many policy makers are not thinking about what needs to be done to ensure that our young people are properly supported.
Councils need to listen to their young people and think again.
Yours sincerely
Rob Johnston
Regional Secretary
Midlands TUC

This letter has been sent to Derbyshire newspapers and radio outlets

Choose Youth rally, 12th February, Solihull

Youth services across the country are under severe threat from government cuts. Vital services that support young people are being pulled apart by the devastating cuts in public spending. At the centre of this new focused assault on young people’s services is the potential demolition of the youth service and youth work.
The youth service was created 50 years ago when the national debt was much higher but when there was a political consensus that society needed quality public services and needed to treasure the voice of the young.
Now, with around a million young people officially unemployed and many more in need of support, the very projects and programmes that bring hope to our young people are being broken up.
Youth clubs, youth programmes, Connexions centres and youth counselling services - to name but a few - find themselves on the front line of cuts.
We say Choose Youth, it is a false economy to cut young people’s services.
A national rally will be taking place on 12 February in the West Midlands. The event will show why these cuts are deeply damaging and unnecessary.
Celebrities, entertainers and most importantly young people and their youth workers and organisations will be there. Make sure every councillor, budget holder and MP knows that we mean business and that services for young people are not for closure or sale. Our young people deserve better.

TO BOOK A PLACE ONLINE,VISIT www.chooseyouth.org  to guarantee your place.