Youth festival funding cut

JJ McNally, Gladstone Place, Aberdeen SIR, – It was with a very heavy heart I read about the proposed funding cut from Aberdeen City Council towards the Aberdeen International Youth Festival.

My first involvement of youth festival was as a child, growing up in Peterculter. My mother took me to events in the summer and I was fascinated by the performances. Children my age from all over the world, sharing their culture proudly. I was hooked and I have no doubt these experiences led to my love of travel and desire to meet people from all over the world.

I first worked as a courier at AIYF when I was studying for my undergraduate degree. I am still in touch with the leaders of the Italian Swiss string orchestra I was attached to in that first year.

The next year I was an associate producer before going on to become festival producer, a role I still reserve time for from my career as a television producer based in Glasgow.

I also have no doubt that my experiences at AIYF led me on the path I am on and without the opportunities that the festival provided I may not have had the experience or confidence to go into this career.

The main thing I think you need to acknowledge and take responsibility for is that things like AIYF are not invented these days, much like the NHS! If it is taken away it will never come back and it will be a massive loss not only to the people of Aberdeen but to the hundreds of participants from across the world who get to come here. Lynne Cowie, Leven Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow