Standing up for Youth Services

David Lammy has written to Claire Kober, leader of Haringey Council, about the council's proposed cuts to youth services [link].

David Lammy has also released the following statement:

“I am, and always will be, an unshakeable supporter of Youth Services. In a borough that sees our young people confronted by eye-wateringly high levels of youth unemployment, the scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance and the Future Jobs Fund and the constant presence of gang culture, the Haringey Youth Service is an overwhelming force for good. Any service that engages young people of all ages, colours and religions from across the borough should be valued and protected.

“I have met with representatives of Save Haringey Youth Services – they know that I am a strong supporter of their campaign. I have met with officials from Haringey Council to discuss the future of Youth Services and I have made it absolutely clear that I believe a 75% cut to Youth Services is unacceptable and further compounds the challenges faced by young people in this borough.

“I have written to Tim Loughton, the Minister for Youth Services, requesting that he meets with me and representatives from Save Haringey Youth Services to see what additional funding the borough might be able to claim and I will continue to make the case to Haringey Council to reconsider their budget.

“We must be absolutely clear why the council has to make these cuts. The government is cutting over £80m from Haringey’s budget whilst wealthy, Liberal Democrat boroughs like Kingston-upon-Thames are being asked to cut just £13.4m this year. Eric Pickles is bringing his axe down on the most vulnerable and deprived communities in the country with a smile on his face.”