Gwynedd youth clubs threatened with closure in shake-up

All youth clubs in Gwynedd could be axed as the council tries to save about £270,000 from its budget.

The council wants to shut all 42 youth clubs and replace them with a county-wide club delivering a programme of activities.

The union Unison said it would work with the authority to protect the "vital service" for young people.

Gwynedd council will launch a six week consultation into its plans on Monday.

Children's Commissioner for Wales Dr Sally Holland said it was "vital" that young people in Gwynedd continued to access extra-curricular learning, whatever the council decides.

She added: "Youth work provides a range of learning opportunities that enhance and enrich children and young people's personal, social, emotional and democratic experience."

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The clubs, staffed by 142 youth workers, are held in 42 communities on various nights of the week.

A report, rubber stamped by the council in October, warned the current service was "not an option for the future" with the service needing £270,000 of cuts.

If the changes go-ahead, all of Gwynedd's youth clubs would close and be replaced with a county-wide club for 11-19-year-olds and a youth worker attached to every secondary school.

Personal support would also be given to 16-25 year olds who are facing barriers to education, training or work. A third sector party would also be commissioned to deliver specific needs.

'Negative impact'

A report to the council warned removing the clubs from the communities would have a "negative impact" on young people, but that this could be mitigated.

Geoff Edkins, Unison regional organiser, said: "We will work with the council to protect this vital service for the young people of Gwynedd."

The council said the county wide youth club would "deliver a programme of activities and projects for 11-19 year olds in schools and communities across the whole of Gwynedd throughout the year".

The consultation will run until 22 December.