EU funding for youth projects under threat, BYC warns
Neil Puffett
Friday, January 6, 2012
Plans to remove a ringfence from nearly 9m (7.3m) of European funding for youth projects in the UK could have a major impact on valuable schemes, the British Youth Council (BYC) has warned.
The European Commission is proposing to integrate the Youth in Action programme within a larger lifelong learning fund called Erasmus for All.
Projects funded by Youth in Action often involve European exchanges, with young people from the Continent visiting the UK or British children travelling to mainland Europe, taking part in various projects and activities. It also funds local participation projects.
James Edleston, head of international at BYC, said, should the plans proceed, there is a danger the money could be used for other purposes.
"At a time when youth services are desperate for cash in the UK, a big fund may no longer exist," he said.
The BYC is currently working on a case against the proposals, which it will use to try and persuade government to oppose the change. It is also calling on organisations in the youth sector to back its campaign.
Chris Neal, the UK representative to the European Youth Forum, said: "The Youth in Action programme gives young people across Europe, particularly those with fewer opportunities, the chance to meet, engage and participate in many different projects that support personal, cultural and political development.
"At a time of austerity, which is hitting young people particularly hard, we strongly believe that a dedicated European youth programme should be a priority of the European Commission."