The future of Birmingham youth services described as 'frightening'
It's after prosposed cuts to youth services have put them at risk of closure.
Last updated 13th Feb 2024
Young people marched to Birmingham City's Council House this morning with Unite the Union, hoping to deliver letters in a bid to save local youth services.
It's after proposed budget cuts at Birmingham City Council have put the city's youth services at risk of closure.
They marched from Birmingham's library to the council house with drums and flags to get councillors' attention.
People rallying described it not as an angry protest but a celebration of youth services, raising awareness of their importance.
Hammam Shire is a young person rallying for the Save Birmingham Youth Service campaign and told us young people need safe places to go.
He said, "we have collected hundreds and hundreds of letters from all across the city of Birmingham from concerned young people. We've visited youth centres, we've spoken to young people, we've done case studies and we've had such a great turn out today.
"It's a plead, a cry out to council members to listen to young people, detailing exactly what youth centres have done for them. A young person was crying, you could see the tear drops on their letter, talking about how it's their only hot meal of the day they receive within youth centres.
"And that's exactly what council members will be deciding today, to either keep young people's hot meals to themselves or to remove that barrier they have to protect them from going on to the streets.
"It's extremely crucial that youth centres are saved in Birmingham. We have the youngest population in all of Europe. There's only 15 youth centres with 330,000 young people, how is that possible? These are the last legs of young people and the city of Birmingham."
Lee Crofts is a youth worker in Birmingham and also told us it's frightening to think what would happen to young people if youth centres had to shut down.
After growing up using youth services, Lee's told us they helped him to get into university and start his life.
He's described youth centres as life changing, "A lot of these youth centres are in the most marginalised communities across the city. For a lot of young people, we are the only adult that's routing for them, and every young person needs an adult.
"The passion and support that it gave me, wanted me to give back. They supported me through a whole career path that led to me going to university to get a degree and then going around Birmingham running youth centres for the last 14 years of my life. It really is the best job in the world."
Birmingham City Council have responded to the rally saying, they'll do everything they can to reduce the impact cuts could have on youth services.
“The council is going through a challenging period due to the financial position and we understand it is an unsettling time for many of our residents.
“As we review the saving proposals for the Children, Young People and Families directorate, it will be inevitable that services will need to be changed as a result, and this process allows us to continue making improvements to provide efficient services.
“We will do all we can to minimise the impact during this difficult time and continue to prioritise the services for the most vulnerable residents in the city.”