Publication from Siân Berry: London's lost youth services 2018

Young people are being shut out as 81 London youth clubs and council youth projects have closed their doors since 2011, reveals a new report from Sian Berry. [1]

Sian’s latest research report, London’s lost youth services 2018, has new figures from councils that show the total amount lost from youth services in London, which would have been spent in the last seven years if budgets had stayed at 2011-12 levels, is now £145 million. Annual cuts since 2011 now exceed £39 million.



Findings also show:



• At least £39 million has been cut from council youth service budgets across London

• Overall, there has been a 44 per cent youth service budget cut, with the average council taking £1.5 million out of youth services over this time

• Across 25 councils with like-for-like data, 81 youth centres and major council-supported youth projects have been cut

• Across 22 councils with like-for-like data, 800 youth service full-time posts have gone.

At least a further £1.2 million is being cut from 15 councils in 2018/19 budgets.

Since 2011, the cumulative amount not spent on services for young people in London is now more than £145 million.