A NEW report has called on the Government to urgently invest in youth services, if serious about levelling up.
The research, conducted by one of the region's Police and Crime Commissioners Kim McGuinness, highlights how local youth provisions are at breaking point while one youth worker said they know of young people who have never even heard of a youth club saying “they just don’t know what one is”.
It found that 71 per cent of the youth organisations surveyed have seen their funding cut or reduced since 2011, leading to an overall 75 per cent decrease in local authority spending on youth services in the Northumbria force area since 2011.
This means funding has been slashed by £31.5 million pounds, with Northumberland being the hardest hit.
Read more: Youth services funding cut by 73% in less than a decade – YMCA
The report, which surveyed 100 North-East youth work organisations, has prompted the commissioner to call on the Government for an urgent rescue strategy, to save the youth sector and young people from losing their way.
Findings from the report found 82 per cent of respondents believe safe locations for young people to gather and meet would help prevent those involved from falling into a life of crime, 77 per cent stated that there needs to be an increase in youth services in their local area, and 63 per cent said that more employment and skill development opportunities were required to prevent youth criminality.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “These findings spell out very clearly how young people struggle to find support throughout the North.
"We have charities giving their all, putting everything into making young people’s lives better but some are having to fundraise for every penny that comes in. They need real help.”
One organisation said: “Youth services are at breaking point. There is not enough money to support the essential services."
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