Stop Kent County Council Removing Youth Funding - save existing youth services in Kent
The Issue
Kent County Council propose to cut all funding the commissioned youth service providers as part of a major shake-up of youth and family services.
Commissioned services are specialist youth service providers – and experts in the sector. Now, all providers for the county are under threat of losing core funding from Kent County Council. This could mean the end of some centres entirely or a greatly reduced support for young people.
A public consultation is now live and we are urging people to support commissioned youth services in Kent and tell Kent County Council not to cut funding.
Here at Gifted Young Gravesham (GYG) in North West Kent, we work with more than 10,000 young people and every secondary school in the borough each year.
Everything we provide young people is free, with activities and workshops on offer 4 days a week, youth clubs in rural areas, trips to events in London and visits to colleges – all with the aim to support the needs of young people, inspire their futures and provide essential health and wellbeing services.
From free mental health counselling, to weekly singing and dance classes with West End professionals, sexual health advice, art classes, filmmaking and media projects, speaking opportunities at conferences and projects with partners in the UK and internationally.
All of these services are now at threat and young people in the borough are angry at the proposed changes.
The youth committee for GYG is now working to coordinate a county-wide approach to protest against the plans with other young people from across the country.
We’re actively encouraging the public to sign this petition and send their feedback to Kent County Council using their online consultation which ends on the 13th September.
If you have worked with us or any other commissioned youth service please tell Kent County Council about the impact it made on the communities you work with why youth centres and youth work is a vital service.
You can complete the online survey for the funding of the services online here.
The Issue
Kent County Council propose to cut all funding the commissioned youth service providers as part of a major shake-up of youth and family services.
Commissioned services are specialist youth service providers – and experts in the sector. Now, all providers for the county are under threat of losing core funding from Kent County Council. This could mean the end of some centres entirely or a greatly reduced support for young people.
A public consultation is now live and we are urging people to support commissioned youth services in Kent and tell Kent County Council not to cut funding.
Here at Gifted Young Gravesham (GYG) in North West Kent, we work with more than 10,000 young people and every secondary school in the borough each year.
Everything we provide young people is free, with activities and workshops on offer 4 days a week, youth clubs in rural areas, trips to events in London and visits to colleges – all with the aim to support the needs of young people, inspire their futures and provide essential health and wellbeing services.
From free mental health counselling, to weekly singing and dance classes with West End professionals, sexual health advice, art classes, filmmaking and media projects, speaking opportunities at conferences and projects with partners in the UK and internationally.
All of these services are now at threat and young people in the borough are angry at the proposed changes.
The youth committee for GYG is now working to coordinate a county-wide approach to protest against the plans with other young people from across the country.
We’re actively encouraging the public to sign this petition and send their feedback to Kent County Council using their online consultation which ends on the 13th September.
If you have worked with us or any other commissioned youth service please tell Kent County Council about the impact it made on the communities you work with why youth centres and youth work is a vital service.
You can complete the online survey for the funding of the services online here.
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Petition created on 2 August 2023