Our statement on Sian Berry’s London’s Lost Youth Services
21 March 2018
On 20th March 2018, Sian Berry AM published London’s Lost Youth Services 2018, the last of three reports on the dramatic decline in funding for council youth services in London boroughs since 2011/12.
- The combined budget for council youth services in 30 London boroughs is £39 million lower than it was in 2011/2012
- The average council youth service budget has been cut by 44% or £1.5 million
- There are 800 fewer full-time youth workers employed by London councils
- The report references London Youth’s 2017 report, Young People’s Capital of the World?
London Youth members, Exposure and New Horizon Youth Centre, were quoted in the BBC coverage of the report.
Our response
“This report makes public what is sadly an ongoing reality for our 350 members. All community youth organisation have been on the receiving end of sustained funding cuts over the past six years, with the £39 million cut just from council youth service budgets across London representing the tip of the iceberg. It is a tragedy to think of the loss of 800 full-time youth workers and the important work they could have been doing to support young people in areas like tackling youth violence.
London Youth continues to call for sustainable funding of youth services and statutory recognition of their importance in the lives of young people. Access to free, high-quality youth services for all, to complement the education system, is essential to building our young people’s confidence and resilience.”
– Rosemary Watt-Wyness, Chief Executive, London Youth
