Speaking in a debate on gangs and youth violence in the House of Commons, Labour MP for Westminster North Karen Buck said that funding for youth violence initiatives "was short term, piecemeal and fragmented".
Referring to a project in Westminster that was funded for 30 weeks and another where funding "went and came back again", she said: "It is almost counterproductive to be in a situation where young people build up a connection with a scheme and then the scheme is gone after six months and the relationships with those youth workers are dissipated.
"When I talk to young people, the response they have when a project comes to an end is that ‘it just shows how very little people care about us because when we are involved in projects that are important, no sooner do we get connected with them then they are over’."
She said this was a picture that was being mirrored nationally and called on the government and local authorities to ensure funding for projects is long term. She also called on the government to review the impact of youth service cuts on efforts to combat youth crime.
The relationships formed between youth workers and young people were crucial in helping police efforts to tackle gangs, she added.
Home Office minister James Brokenshire said that the government has significantly boosted funding for initiatives to tackle youth violence.
He pointed to the government’s response to the actress Brooke Kinsella’s report into knife crime, which was released in February. An £18m package of measures was announced, including an extra £3.75m to police in London, Manchester and the West Midlands and £10m to fund projects to divert those at risk of gang culture away from crime.
Brokenshire added: "While the majority of young people are law abiding, sadly a small minority engage in violent and intimidating behaviour. Their actions can have a terrible and lasting impact on the lives of young people, their families and their local communities."
