Young people of Haringey campaign to save projects

Campaigners will challenge Haringey Council’s chief executive Kevin Crompton today (18 November) at an event organised by the 300-strong movement, called Save Haringey Youth Centres.

They want to see youth projects such as Exposure magazine, which won a CYP Now Positive Images Award this year, saved from closure. Five council-run youth centres face closure as a result of local authority budget cuts.

More than 1,000 signatures on have been collected so far on a petition to back the cause.

Councillor Lorna Reith, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The campaign demonstrates the strength of feeling among young people in Haringey, and their initiative is commendable.

"Final decisions about funding in the light of the government's cuts have not yet been taken. However, the speed and depth of the cuts — we expect to lose up to £60m from the budget next year alone — mean we are forced to look closely at every penny of expenditure, including youth provision.

"I meet regularly with local young people and members of the Haringey Youth Council to give them the chance to discuss their concerns, and the chief executive's involvement with the Word on the Street event allowed young people to share their thoughts on the cuts and other issues of concern.

"We will listen to those concerns and would also urge all interested young people to take part in the Shaping Our Future survey, which offers everyone in Haringey the chance to say how they think the cuts should be managed."