Growing up, my local adventure play centre and youth club in Coldharbour was more than just a hub for the community, it was a home. It was a safe haven for children like myself, a place where we were not just protected but also nurtured. And it wasn't just about play, but about fulfilling the basic needs of many children in our community, providing meals during the half term and summer months. This essential support channel was threatened with closure a few years ago, with the woefully inadequate justification that there were others nearby. But I know that moving children around, especially in an area like ours where stabbings are a tragically common occurrence, is not a safer option.

Play centres and youth clubs are crucial to the health and well-being of our communities. They provide a safe place for children to play and interact, while also offering invaluable resources to those that would not otherwise have them. Research conducted in the UK has shown that youth services help reduce crime rates, improve mental health, increase academic achievement and deliver annual cost benefits to public services of £7.21 per £1 spent (UK Youth, 2020). It is therefore not only a question of social responsibility but also of public economic benefit to continue funding these centres.

We demand that funding cuts to adventure play centres and youth clubs across the country be stopped. Our children's safety, health, and happiness should never be at stake. Prevent the closure of facilities that are lifelines to many families, instead let's invest in our communities and the future of our children. Please sign the petition and make a stand for our children.