Campaign to prioritise services for young

HINCKLEY and Bosworth Liberal Democrats are backing a campaign for investment in out-ofschool youth services.

They are supporting UK Youth and its manifesto that calls for youth services to be made a priority public service.

UK Youth said: “For many young people, their youth service is their only safe space.

“Every young person in the UK should have access to a minimum standard of youth services, enabling access to mental health services, citizenship education, social mixing and training.”

According to Leicester-based National Youth Agency, youth services across the UK have had to close because of financial cuts which have been imposed on pubic services in recent years.

Leicestershire County Councillor Michael Mullaney, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokes- person for Bosworth, said: “Investment in youth services is vital.

“Leicestershire young people already get an unfair deal with our local schools being among the worst funded in the country.

“I hope Leicestershire’s Tory MPs will start to fight to get our young people the fair funding they need for local schools and youth services.”

Mathew Hulbert is vice chair of Bosworth Liberal Democrats and former Young People’s Champion for Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

He said: “Our policy supports the need for statutory funding.

“It is outrageous that these services continue to be axed.

“Often, vulnerable young people will confide in professional Council-funded youth workers when they feel they have nowhere else to turn.”