Thousands against youth service cuts in Staffordshire
Thousands of people have spoken out against cuts to youth services in a survey, it has been revealed.
More than 80 per cent of young people in the consultation have opposed the cuts being proposed by Staffordshire County Council.
More than 3,000 people took part in the survey, with many saying they valued youth centresand the activities held there.
It comes as an hour-long debate on controversial cuts to youth services has been secured by campaigners after more than 16,000 names were collected on a petition.
The issue was being debated at a full council meeting today after 16,318 names were collected on a petition – and campaigners hope to convince bosses to change their plans. During a public consultation there were a total of 3,249 responses, with 2,511 from young people.
Some 82 per cent of young people who used youth clubs said they did not agree with the council's plans, and 65 per cent of people disagreed overall.
There were some concerns raised about the capacity of the voluntary sector to cater for vulnerable young people, for example those with disabilities, as well as fearsthat the proposal could lead to more young people being at risk and on the streets.
The authority plans to stop directly providing youth services to save £2.8m in the next financial year, rising to £4.5m a year until 2021. It means Walton Youth Centre, in Walton on the Hill, Gnosall Youth Centre at St Lawrence Primary School, in Gnosall, and Stone Youth Centre in Station Road, Stone, are all under threat. The cuts are part of the Tory-run council's plan to slash £102 million of spending from its books over the next five years, which includes closing library buildings and possibly the Shire Hall.
