Fears for city's youth as clubs face budget cuts

Ramaysa Raqueeb says youth clubs have been a 'lifeline' for her

Youth workers in Birmingham have accused the financially beleaguered city council of a “veiled attempt to dismantle their service”, leaving them feeling “overwhelmed and abandoned”.

They shared the view in a letter, seen by the BBC, sent last month to Sue Harrison, the authority’s head of Children’s Services which ultimately oversees youth centres and similar provision.

More than £2m is set to be cut from the city's Youth Service department as part of wider budget savings of more than £300m, approved by councillors last week.

Birmingham City Council has said the budget available for services for young people is £1.223m.

Sources have told the BBC that cuts of that scale could lead to the majority of council-run clubs and projects closing unless new partnerships or external funding can be found.

Dozens of young people took part in a protest outside the council house as the budget cuts were officially approved

Eighteen youth centres or projects are run by the authority currently, according to its website.

Alongside Youth Service budget cuts, the city’s Career Service, offering information and advice to young people aged between 13 and 19, is to be redesigned.

The letter, backed by senior youth workers, claims there has been a “deep-rooted instability that has plagued our service for far too long” and urges Ms Harrison to “advocate for its survival”.

One youth worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said some of his colleagues had sought mental health support for the first time because of the pressures on finances and the stress of cuts.

Jason, not his real name, explained: “Morale is at an all-time low. We’re an easy target to take money from and there’s very little investment left.

"It’s more or less wiping us out. For young people, we are their champions. The council has deserted the youth service for the last ten years."

He added: "There is that fear that if you do speak out, you could lose your job or be targeted.”

Clare Keogh from the Unite union warned the cuts would be 'devastating to young people'

Other youth workers in the city have said they recognise savings have to be made but feel frustrated that an external party is being used to redesign services instead of using their expertise to shape delivery.

Unite, a union representing youth workers, said it might be the summer before plans were finalised, leaving their members in limbo.

“It’s not been made explicitly clear what these cuts will look like'', said Clare Keogh, Unite’s national officer for local authorities.

“We know they’ll be significant, and frankly, they’ll be devastating for young people," she said.

"We’re talking about them losing a safe space, access to a trusted adult; and those services are needed more than ever due to the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.”

'Lifeline'

Ramaysa Raqueeb, 18, said the Concord youth centre in Sparkbrook had been a lifeline to her for the past five years.

“When I started [going], I had no confidence and was scared of meeting people," she explained.

"But now it’s so amazing, I know more about myself, I’m meeting new people. If I didn’t go there I’d probably be at home sleeping and doing nothing. They showed me who I am."

She was joined by dozens of young people at a protest last Tuesday outside the Council House as the budget cuts were officially approved.

Mark, 15, said attending a youth club had given him different perspectives on life.

“I’ve met a lot of good youth workers who have always helped me," he said. "Their help is immeasurable. They have the highest quality and experience.”

Mark praised the help he received from youth workers as 'immeasurable'

Mia George, 20, said she had been supported during the Covid-19 pandemic when she was meant to take her GCSEs but had struggled with her mental health.

“I have always been able to walk through the door and just be me," she told the BBC. "These cuts are taking away that support and encouragement from trusted youth workers as well as the safe space we choose to go to."

The leader of the Conservatives group on the council, Bobby Alden, urged the Labour cabinet to rethink such cuts.

He said: "For the council to even consider cutting these vital services which keep youngsters in our city safe is shameful. They should come out [to the demonstration] and speak to these young people."

He also criticised the measures at a time "when we are seeing so much knife crime and tragedies on our streets".

The local authority has said an independent review of services for young people, including the Youth Service, will be undertaken in due course.

The review is set to inform a redesigned service that delivers its "statutory responsibilities, prioritising the most vulnerable young people".

Following the full council budget meeting, £1m of non-recurrent funding was committed for targeted and evidence-based interventions for young people which were currently being developed, the council stated.

A spokesperson said the authority continued to engage with those staff who may be affected, and they were being supported by their managers.

They added of staff: "We are extremely grateful for their ongoing commitment to the young people they work with."

Meanwhile, Jason said he would continue to advocate for services and urged council bosses to listen to their concerns, to protect jobs and ensure vulnerable children got the best provision the city could offer.

Between 2011 and 2019, more than 40 youth projects shut down in Birmingham due to austerity cuts, the BBC understands.

“My greatest fear is that we are not learning from the past”, Jason said, warning "we are not investing in our young people".

“When our youth centres close, where are they going to go?"