Youth club fights headquarters closure

The building contains a recording studio

A youth club in Kent has made what it called a “last ditch” attempt to save its headquarters.

Ramsgate Youth Centre is aiming to raise £500,000 to buy its current premises after Kent County Council (KCC) announced it intended to sell the site to balance its budget.

Zoe Carassik, chief executive of the charity Pie Factory Music, said losing the space would be a "tragedy for young people who have already weathered so much in terms of cuts to youth services”.

The council said it was a “difficult decision”, but it needed to make an estimated £118m in savings this year to protect statutory services in the future.

However, Ms Carassik warned the closure could cost the local authority more in the long run with issues like tackling crime and mental health if children and teenagers "slip through the cracks".

"Young people need somewhere to hang out, be safe and get the support they need,” she said.

Ms Carassik said the centre was a "community institution" that had served generations of families in Ramsgate since it was built in 1969.

"It's a big part of people's lives here," she added.

Several other community initiatives use the building, which has outdoor areas and a recording studio, including groups for adults with disabilities and young people not in mainstream education.

• 'Difficult decisions' ahead, warns Kent County Council

In November, KCC approved cuts of £900,000 to youth services, despite a public backlash.

The authority also announced subsidies for youth clubs would end and essential services would be brought under one umbrella, called Family Hubs.

About 18% of children under the age of 16 in Thanet are living in "absolute low-income families" - the highest in Kent - according to KCC.

"As the building is no longer required to support KCC service delivery, the council will be progressing with the sale," a KCC spokesperson said.

"The proceeds from any sale will be reinvested to support the council’s operational services."