fbpx Our statement on Labour’s Building a Statutory Youth Service - London Youth

31 July 2018

London Youth supports Labour’s commitment to put the youth sector on a statutory basis and calls for all parties to follow suit.

Today the Labour Party announced its commitment to providing youth services on a statutory basis across England. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Cat Smith MP, Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs, have today also launched a consultation into how the new system will work.

London Youth will be working with our members to ensure that their voices are heard in the consultation process.


Rosemary Watt-Wyness, Chief Executive of London Youth said:

“London Youth welcomes Labour’s commitment to put the youth sector on a statutory basis and we encourage all political parties to follow suit, given the drastic youth service funding cuts endured. Access to free, high-quality youth services for all, to complement the education system, is essential to build our young people’s confidence and resilience.

Today’s announcement recognises the importance of our local youth organisations which are embedded in communities across London. Our 320+ members support young people in many critical ways, providing a safe space and supporting our most disengaged young people back into education and employment. Behind the scenes, youth workers are inspiring young people to engage with employability programmes and to be ambitious about a better economic future for themselves; something we all recognise is a key ingredient of youth violence prevention.”

Paul, Club Manager for 30 years at St Andrews Club in Westminster said:

“Youth workers and policy makers all know the positive, long term impact of early intervention youth work and that prevention is so much cheaper than cure, both morally and financially. Statutory funding of youth services would enable youth organisations like St Andrews Club to work with young people much earlier than we can now and to change these young lives for the better.”


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