Up to 18 island youth clubs could close

YOUTH clubs could close following cuts of up to 70% being proposed by the local authority.

As the Mail went to press on Tuesday, Anglesey’s councillors were set scrutinise plans that could see cuts of between 28% and 67% in the island’s youth service.

Under the more severe proposals, 18 of the island’s 28 youth clubs would close, leaving just two clubs in each of the five secondary school catchment areas over 34 weeks.

This would leave just three fulltime covering five secondary school catchment areas, with the loss of 25 leader in charge posts.

While the youth service’s budget is currently £560,000, the cuts would see this slashed by anywhere between £157,000 and £376,000 a year compared to the funding in 2013.

The service currently employs six full-time staff and another 52 part-time,

But according to the report presented to members, youth club attendance dropped by 17% between 2013 and 2015, despite a small increase last year.

23,000 youths attended such clubs during 2015/16, which tra- ditionally open for 26 weeks between September and March.

But a consultation of young people across the island, found many would be unwilling to attend clubs in their nearest town or large village, if their local club were to shut.

It also found the importance of youth workers being able to speak Welsh.

But in the report, that was due to be discussed by Anglesey Council’s Partnership and Regen- eration Scrutiny Committee yesterday (Tuesday), members are also being advised to balance any savings with the loss in service.

A final decision will then be made by the council’s executive in February.

Youth Clubs such as this one in Moelfre do a lot of good work in the community and are currently under threat due to budget cuts of between 28% and 67%