Young people march to Birmingham City Council to save youth services
It's after the council proposed cuts to its budget.
Last updated 13th Feb 2024
Protesters are marching with drums today from the Library of Birmingham to a rally outside Council House over plans to slash funding for the city’s youth services in half.
Save Birmingham Youth Service is marching through the city today to show it's proud of Birmingham's status as one of the youngest cities in Europe.
Young people who use Birmingham Youth Services plan to hand letters to the council, hoping to change councillors' minds about proposed cuts.
Letters written by young people in the city describe how cutting £2.3 million from the service’s £4.8 million budget will impact them.
Unite said the cuts to services - which help teens avoid cycles of crime, exploitation, and mental ill health - will cost more money in the long run.
Twelve of the city’s youth centres are located in the top 20 per cent of the most deprived wards in the country.
One letter written for the council says, "Birmingham Youth Service have helped to hold back the tide of a growing mental health crisis, but young people are now at risk of having the service that supported them pulled from under their feet.
"As the cost-of-living crisis continues, youth centres have increasing numbers of young people attending hungry and in food poverty.
"It is impossible to believe that less than 18 months ago Birmingham was celebrating hosting the Commonwealth Games, which boasted a lasting legacy for the city.
"It seems that the only legacy will be a broken city that has left its young people, some of its most vulnerable residents, out in the cold and feeling undervalued by their council."
Studies show youth work saves ÂŁ500 million on public spending through crime reduction alone and that there is a clear correlation between a reduction in funding and an increase in the crime rate.
Unite regional officer Lee Wiggetts-Clinton said: “Birmingham’s Youth Services are already decimated with just 25 full time staff for the thousands of young people using the service.
“It makes absolutely no sense to further destroy this vital service, which generates an independent income as well as saving public money in the long run by helping at risk teens avoid crime and exploitation.
“Birmingham council’s youth workers, as well as its other staff, did not create this financial crisis and Unite will be fighting to make sure they do not pay the price for it.”
Unite understands that the council is planning to spend up to ÂŁ250,000 for a redesign of three of its services for young people.
The union said this would be a colossal waste of money given the funding shortages facing the council.
The services set to be redesigned are Birmingham Youth Service, Birmingham Careers Service and the 14-19 team.
A Birmingham youth worker said: “The impact of the loss of services would be horrendous. The majority of our 18 youth projects regularly feed young people when they come to sessions, as they are coming hungry due to the current cost of living crisis.
"The levels of young people suffering adverse mental health will only increase. When young people are engaged in positive activities and surrounded by trustworthy adults, they are less likely to engage in negative or risk-taking behaviour.”
The Save Birmingham Youth Service campaign has set up a petition calling for the proposed cuts to be stopped.
At a meeting last week, council leader John Cotton said: “I think we’ve been very clear that we know we are facing significant financial challenges and there will be very tough decisions that need to be taken.”
The council has said the most vulnerable people will be protected.
It's awaiting a response from the government for exceptional financial support.