Youth service leaders fear new government cuts

By Ross Watson Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Youth service leaders are warning that preventative youth work will be first in line for cuts under the new government.

The coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats earmarks £6bn cuts across government this financial year, but it is yet to emerge where the axe could fall.

David Whewell, head of youth development for Wiltshire County Council, told CYP Now that he does not believe youth services will be a priority.

"There's a focus on those young people perceived to be most in need," he said. "We're already seeing it in some councils where there has been a reduction in youth work to put more money into targeted support."

Whewell cited West Sussex County Council, which is Tory-led, as an example of a council already cutting services. Buckinghamshire County Council, also Tory-run, has recently announced cuts to youth clubs as part of plans to refocus its budget on targeted services.

Sue Payne, chair of the Confederation of Heads of Young People's Services, added that professionals are worried new Justice Secretary Ken Clarke will shun preventative services in favour of a "lock 'em up attitude" towards young offenders.

But Gordon Savage, head of Derbyshire County Council's youth service, said the move to more targeted youth services could be a catalyst for positive change. "We need to think of more innovative and creative ways of delivering preventative services, not in the same blinkered way we have done for years," he said.

Paul Oginsky, the Prime Minister's youth policy adviser, told CYP Now that the new government will stick to the Tory agenda of giving local authorities autonomy over delivering youth services.

He also confirmed that the Conservative's flagship community-involvement programme for 16-year-olds, the National Citizen Service, is set to go ahead.

Nick Wilkie, chief executive of charity London Youth, said the citizen service would provide fantastic opportunity for young people. But warned it must not be used as a "fig-leaf" in the face of cuts to youth work. "A three week development programme for young people will not solve their most deep-rooted problems," he added.