Commenting on the YMCA report Safe Space published today (Tuesday) examining the role of council youth services, UNISON head of local government Jon Richards said:
“Youth services are in tatters after almost a decade of austerity.
“Our research has shown that since 2010 government cuts have forced 940 youth centres to close with the loss of 4,500 youth workers.
“Young people need places to go, and adults they can trust, in order to feel safe. Councils must be given proper funding to support the needs of local communities.”
Notes to editors
– More details of the impact of austerity cuts found by UNISON freedom of information requests in December 2019 are available here.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Sophie Goodchild T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
