Bristol youth worker calls for more funding to tackle knife crime
Hundreds of youth centres have closed across England and Wales in the last decade
West Country youth workers are pleading once again that they get better support, as the region's leaders debate how to reduce knife crime.
Following the fatal stabbings of more than half a dozen teenagers across Bristol and Bath in the last year, how to prevent such tragedies is being discussed across the region.
Dennis Stinchcombe MBE, who runs Broad Plain Boys' Club in Bristol, says they must be better funded.
He told Hits Radio: "I work with lots and lots of young men and women that come through the club, primarily these days doing boxing...and because they're doing that, they tend to be active. They're getting rid of their energy if you like, this pent up energy and because of that by the time they finish the training session they're normally very tired, they go home and go to bed.
"Which of course is what we want our young people to do, enjoy their evening, go home safe and sleep soundly in their beds."
According to the Local Government Association, funding for places like Broad Plain declined by 70 per cent in real terms, between 2010/11 and 2018/19.
More than 4,500 youth work jobs have been cut and more than 750 youth centres closed across England and Wales.
That includes a centre Eagle House in Knowle West, near to where Mason Rist and Max Dixon lost their lives in January.
A petition set up last year calling for Eagle House to be reopened has been signed by hundreds of people in the community.
"We're in a quandary as to where our young people can go and what they can do and know that they'll come home alright in the night time," Dennis said.
"My club at this time, we're struggling financially...
"The worry we've got is, if we lose the clubs that we have got, which are very few and far between at the moment, then there will be nothing for young people to go to. There won't be an alternative.
"If we cut funding, so we can't get staffing, so we can't pay the bills, I've got an electric bill at the moment of £2,000 a month...I just think the government needs to seriously think how can we bring in more funding for the clubs that are out there doing something already?
"I don't think a knee jerk reaction of, 'right we're going to spend £3 million in this area, build a brand new club and it's all going to be right.' It doesn't work that way. Never has, never will and actually, they need to be thinking about looking after the ones that are there (already)."
The government response
Asked to respond to Dennis' comments a spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: "Every young person, no matter where they're from, deserves the best start in life and opportunities to fulfil their potential.
"Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure young people can access youth services, and the Government is delivering an above inflation increase in funding for councils to over £64 billion for 24/25.
"We have additionally provided significant funding for youth services, including over £1.1 billion for the youth sector In England between 2015 and 2021.
"We are also investing over £500 million to deliver the National Youth Guarantee, so that by 2025 every young person will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer."
As part of the National Youth Guarantee, the government says it is rebuilding or developing hundreds of youth centres nationwide.