Opposition to plans for youth services
THOUSANDS of people have voiced their opposition to staff cuts being planned for the Vale of Glamorgan’s youth service.
Vale of Glamorgan council is planning to reduce the number of staff in its youth service from 53 to 25 and to close Llantwit Major Youth Centre.
Frontline youth workers would be cut from 48 to just nine staff as the council aims to create a “mobile” youth service with fewer employees in part-time posts.
The council, which stands to save £63,000 from the changes, said it wants youth services to be more sustainable and effective.
Councillor Helen Payne, Barry town councillor and youth worker, said she’s helped to collect 2,500 signatures for a petition against the changes, which was handed to the council at its full council meeting on Wednesday night.
She said: “The value of youth work will never be known entirely until you’re older.
“It’s really important we maintain our youth services - the value of youth work is so important to young people.
“We need to engage young people because it’s a useful service, people need something to do and it has an impact on people’s lives.”
As part of the changes, community groups would be encouraged to support youth work in the county by taking control of premises and supporting the delivery of youth programmes.
The proposed youth service changes will be discussed further by the Vale of Glamorgan’s cabinet today.
Councillor Bob Penrose, cabinet member for learning and skills, told Wednesday night’s meeting the youth service provision is not being cut.
Mr Penrose said although there would be fewer roles in the service after the reorganisation, they would have longer hours and be for fully-qualified youth workers.
He said: “There seems to be a false assumption that what is proposed is a cut to the youth service provision. “This is not the case. “I’m very aware of the positive role of the youth service in reducing antisocial behaviour. That is why the proposed changes to the delivery model of youth services will not lead to a cut in the universal provision.”
He added Llantwit Major’s Youth Centre is the last facility of its kind operating in the Vale of Glamorgan, and said it would be replaced with a “youth bus”.