Green councillors have today welcomed the review of youth service funding in the city, which will look at developing a new youth space in the city centre
A report to today’s Children, Young People and Skills Committee has today called for a review of funding for youth services in the city, a move welcomed by Green Councillors.
The review will look into the £384,000 fund provided by the council to youth organisations in the city, including the Hangleton and Knoll Project, Allsorts and Trust for Developing Communities.
It will also explore the options to develop a ‘Central Youth Hub’ in the city, which could be positioned at the current Brighton Youth Centre (BYC) site.
In order to complete the review, current funding arrangements will be extended to March 2021 so that existing youth service provision is not affected.
Until the review is complete, Greens have asked that the council offers to support proposals from Brighton Youth Centre, which works with ‘Onside Youth Zones,’ in developing a new, fit-for-purpose building in Brighton. Onside are a national youth charity working primarily with local councils to help build youth centres in areas of need.
Greens say future youth service provision must be improved and protected, and requests that the council prepares a funding application to the recently announced Government youth investment fund.
Councillor Hannah Clare, Green Group lead on Youth Services said:
“More investment in youth services is critical for our city’s young people. This is why the Greens fought hard to reverse the planned youth services cut proposed by the Labour Council in 2017. We must do all we can to provide high-quality provision in the city, including supporting external youth providers.
“Sadly, the days of substantial investment into youth services are gone, but these are positive steps towards increasing the standard and availability of youth services in the city. Having seen for myself what Onside Youth Zones look like, I am particularly excited about the proposal to support Brighton Youth Centre and what these plans could do for the city.
“What is most important now however, is that youth engagement is at the heart of the review and we listen to young people in what they want out of council investment in youth services.”