Youth services face axe in Brent

Brent Council proposes saving £1.3m by closing all its youth services and reinvesting £1m in a reduced service that would be led by local charities and community groups.

In his report to the cabinet, Brent’s chief finance officer Conrad Ball concedes that “closing all youth services would present significant challenges”.

His report adds that “cutting services dramatically and in the short-term could have many other unpredictable and negative consequences”.

The report also stresses that if youth services were cut without reinvestment in a voluntary sector alternative it would “impact heavily on young people, gender identity, race, sex and sexual orientation”.

The plans are being considered by the council's cabinet on 23 February as the London authority looks to make £54m worth of cuts.

Other cuts being proposed include axing £522,000 from the careers advisory service Connexions. Hall, in his report to cabinet members concedes this is set to disproportionately effect young people from black communities and those with disabilities.

His report says: “While Brent does not have high levels of young people not in education, employment or training (Neets), it has high numbers of young people seriously at risk of becoming Neet, in particular young people who are gang affected and those with special educational needs and disabilities.

“There are a disproportionate number of young black men and young disabled people who would be affected by this proposal.”