Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Harry kids plea
Prince says youth centres ‘vital’
THE Duke of Sussex has called for more support for under-threat youth centres, as he praised the work that they do.
Prince Harry made the plea yesterday as he visited a centre which runs a programme helping to feed and entertain children during the school holidays.
He spoke at Streatham Youth and Community Trust’s John Corfield Centre in Streatham, South London. The prince described youth centres as places where children can feel safe to discuss their concerns, which he said are exacerbated by technological advancements.
He said of modern life: “We’re adding to social isolation – whether it’s the nine-year-old on the phone, or computer games – for young people nowadays to be caught up in a world like this, we are adding to a whole list of issues that already existed. And then by closing places like this down – the one place which they really have to come and have a normal conversation about mental health, their lifestyle, issues at home...
“These places are a community hub. And I don’t think people over the years have understood or realised how vital this is to the younger generation.” Harry chatted with children and helped staff to dish out lunch at the centre, which runs the Fit And Fed programme.
Launched by charity Streetgames, the scheme aims to tackle hunger, inactivity and isolation during the school holidays.
New Independent MP Chuka Umunna, who quit the Labour Party on Monday, joined Prince Harry at the facility in his Streatham constituency.
Mr Umunna said: “We have among the highest rates of child poverty in the country here. Around 35-36% of our young people are children in poverty.
“So this particular programme is absolutely vital. You cannot rely on public sector funding for youth services because it’s being cut to the bone.”