A youth centre in West Howe, Dorset. (via)
It will come as no surprise to anyone involved in the depressing machinations of it, but the way in which youth services in the UK are being roundly depleted and destroyed is still shocking. A report from public service union Unison paints a damning picture of the state of youth services, which have been declining at a nose-dive rate since 2012. £387 million has been cut from the services since 2010, with 600 youth centres closing down and 3,650 staff members being axed. 180 councils warn of “new cuts” in the near future.
The report, titled A Future at Risk, stated: “Most strikingly, the overwhelming majority (91 percent) said the cuts were having a particular impact on young people from poorer backgrounds. More than half said there were particular problems for young black people, young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and young women.”
Videos by VICE
Most of the government’s money for the young, a projected £1.1 billion, is going towards something called the National Citizen Service, which sounds like conscription, but isn’t, honest! The vague website for this new saviour of the guttersnipes claims that “NCS is a chance for 15 to 17-year-olds to come together and achieve amazing things,” and that it will only cost them “…£50, but [the] cost could be less or even free depending on your circumstances and local NCS provider”. It also boasts adventures and has a photo of a bunch of people with surfboards, which I’m sure will be a great consolation to kids with mental health problems who can’t get the support they need because there’s no longer anyone there to provide it.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: “It’s youth services which prevent problems happening in the first place by reducing feelings of isolation among young people and helping teenagers to lead positive lives. But they’ve been relentlessly cut and undermined at a time when they are needed more than ever. Youth services are heading for collapse.”
Still, as long as they’re able to scrape together £50 from seemingly nowhere to go wakeboarding and do some quasi-community service with the NCS, everything’s fine and dandy, right?
More from VICE:
Drugs, Guns and Gang Rape: What’s Being Done to Help London’s Girls in Gangs?
The Tories Won’t Admit It, But They’re Planning More Cuts for the Young
