Youth club closures have‘ left kids with nothing to do’
A VASTLY experienced youth worker has warned cuts to youth services are closely linked to anti-social behaviour among young people in Hyndburn.
Martin Hanratty, who took redundancy in March 2017 due to youth service cuts by Lancashire County Council, said the previous open access service with five youth clubs in the borough’s townships has now been replaced by a greatly reduced provision based at New Era in Accrington.
Martin, who lives in Accrington and now volunteers for a disability group, is so concerned that he says he has written to police chief Clive Grunshaw setting out his fears. He said: “They’ve shut youth clubs at Huncoat and Clayton-leMoors, Oswaldtwistle, Great Harwood, Rishton. There were three youth workers on each session, three nights a week. The only thing left is New Era.
“It’s a travesty that we don’t have things to do and places to go for young people. We used to have 60 or 70 kids on a Friday night. We used to pen them in there from 7pm to 9.30pm. That reduces the risks to young people and anti-social behaviour.
“They were fantastic kids in Oswaldtwistle and I get people now saying what a damn shame.”
He added that the money needs to be found as potential savings from cuts to youth services for the key 12-19 age group are dwarfed by the associated costs.
Martin, who is a father-of-three, said: “We need to find the funds. If you don’t give young people things to do and places to go they’re going to get bored and do stupid things. It costs thousands of pounds in criminal damage. I’ve written to Clive Grunshaw. Part of his budget is to reduce anti-social behaviour and I’m saying invest in youth provision.”
He added that part of the problem was that in the past trained staff would have built up trust with young people, and led on outreach and preventative work.
He said: “I feel for the police. I’m sure the police would support anything to engage young people.
“Some of these young people are doing nothing wrong whatsoever. Some of them are just hanging around on street corners.
“People become intimidated and don’t want to engage with them.
“There will be a drink element, smoking or weed.
“We educated them about drugs and the consequences of their actions. No-one is doing that work anymore. They’re on the streets and it’s dangerous.
“The question I would ask is ‘where are your children?’ Do you know where they are and what they’re doing? Young people can contact each other so easily these days and then you get a big gang congregating.”