Over 100 Newham young people have today sent an open letter calling on MPs to support legislation to protect and properly fund youth services.
The letter has been co-signed by the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz and calls on 100 MPs to attend and support the second reading of a private members’ bill.
The Youth (Services and Provisions) Bill is scheduled to have its second reading this Friday (23rd November).
The Bill calls for youth provision to be placed on a statutory footing and for central government to provide adequate funding for these vital services.
The letter reads: “Youth services and youth centres play a crucial role for young people in our borough, and elsewhere, to build confidence in their community and learn new skills.
“For many young people across the country youth centres provide extra-curricular and other opportunities that may not otherwise be available to them. Youth centres also offer help and advice from trusted and trained youth workers as well as vital outreach services.”
Nationally, funding for universal youth services has been cut by over half since 2012. In London alone, statistics show that nearly £22 million has been cut from youth services.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said: “In Newham we are proud to have the youngest population in the country with nearly a quarter of our residents under the age of 18.
“Our youth hubs and services do an excellent job and it is clear that they are greatly valued by our young people.”
“The young people that I have been speaking to in Newham, and who are signatories to this letter, are appealing to MPs and parliamentarians to support this Bill. Without statutory protection and proper funding, these vital youth services will remain vulnerable to government cuts”.