Bromley Council announces £250,000 cuts to Youth Service

Bromley Council has announced cuts of £250,000 are to be made to the Bromley Youth Support Programme. Described as “transformational savings” the service has been tasked with finding £125,000 this year and £125,000 in the next financial year, bringing total cuts to £250,000. 

Citing changes made to Streetwise Youth Centre- in which the club was closed and rapidly relocated due to safety concerns with the building- as an example of the type of transformation which had already been carried out, the council argued that the intention of the cuts was not to reduce the service, rather look for ways to work smarter about what they can deliver.

Bromley Lib Dem councillor and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Orpington Constituency- Graeme Casey- criticised the cuts, arguing that they would only have a negative impact on the people that use them:

“In the midst of a public services crisis, we should be prioritising our young people, not cutting back on them,” he said, “the work of the youth programme is outstanding; reducing its funding puts a limit on the amazing work that I have seen our youth workers do to support young people.”

The importance of the youth service in tackling issues which affect not just young people, but all of us- such as mental health and youth-related crime- cannot be understated, with the Conservatives in Bromley failing time and time again to realise the preventative role it undertakes. This is why the Bromley Lib Dems called for additional funding for the youth service of £75,000, as well as 5 new youth workers, when presenting their budget amendments in 2023. 

The Bromley Liberal Democrats continue to call for increased funding for young people to offer them the support they need.