Blunkett blasts cuts to youth services

Speaking at Citizenship Foundation’s Young People Driving Change event in the House of Lords today, Blunkett said the reduction in area-based grants to local authorities had left services for young people highly vulnerable to cuts.
 
"A big chunk of the area-based grant goes into youth inclusion, youth work, Connexions and beyond. It’s disappearing now and in the months ahead without people really understanding what it means," he said.
 
Blunkett called on young people to contact their local MP and to make use of organisations such as the UK Youth Parliament and V to ensure their views were heard. "By making use of such organisations you can get across to us politicians that you’re not prepared to have your services and your future demolished simply because you don’t yet have a vote."

Blunkett’s comments came after trainee youth worker Josh Scott, 19, called on politicians to do more to support youth work. "Young people aren’t just the leaders of the future, they’re the leaders of today," he said. "But we’ve got to do more to help them and give youth projects the funding to help keep young people off the streets."