Shropshire to focus youth services on neediest groups

The council is consulting on three options to shake-up youth service provision as part of plans to save £140,000 from the department’s budget.

Each option proposes a reduction in the number of youth work sessions per week and considers the creation of local area youth boards – bodies that have young people sitting on them to identify local youth needs and influence service provision. They are:

The council is also asking local residents to suggest a fourth alternative option as part of its consultation.

Gwilym Butler, cabinet member for culture, leisure and libraries, said it is important that services are targeted where they are needed most.

He said: “Our proposal to reduce a number of youth club sessions is not one we make lightly.

“However, we need to ensure that the money and staff that we have are used well in local areas.

“We believe that youth club sessions that are held in the most deprived areas, and which currently have lots of young people attending should be maintained.

“Financial support for sessions in the voluntary sector should and will continue as they are highly valued by us and the communities that they serve.”

The council hopes that a significant proportion of the £140,000-worth of savings will be made through voluntary redundancies.

The consultation ends on 31 March.