MPs sign For Youth's Sake pledge

Claiming the campaign is "badly needed", the shadow children's minister has given his full support.

He said: "We must fight to protect decent youth services, staffed by trained professionals, from the coalition government's reckless, ideological cuts, and the principle that young people should have a real say."

Labour MP Stella Creasy, co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on youth affairs, also endorsed the campaign saying: "It is a great way to ensure young people's voices are heard and I'll be doing whatever I can to support this work." Her party colleagues David Blunkett and education select committee member Lisa Nandy echoed her approval. Blunkett called on the government to "stop the plug being pulled on essential youth programmes".

The leader of the Green Party and Brighton MP Caroline Lucas also backed the campaign, saying: "The Green Party is fighting for the creation of jobs and training places to help tackle youth unemployment, and at the same time we need to recognise the vital role of top-quality youth services in securing a decent future for young people."

The campaign, launched by CYP Now in July, has already attracted the backing of leading youth organisations and sports champions such as Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes and boxing world champion Amir Khan.

For more information and to sign the online pledge visit www.foryouthssake.co.uk.