A survey of more than 120 youth organisations by the charity London Youth found that 43 per cent said they will not be able to meet operational costs
(Picture: PA Wire)More than 40 per cent of London’s youth clubs could close within a year because they have run out of money, research suggests.
A survey of more than 120 youth organisations by the charity London Youth found that 43 per cent said they will not be able to meet operational costs without securing additional funding for more than 12 months.
Of those, 14 per cent said they face closure within three months. More than one quarter of clubs said they will have to make some staff redundant.
The figures highlight the devastating impact the pandemic has had on the sector.
London Youth said youth organisations were already facing severe budget cuts before the pandemic and their finances are now under even greater strain. It called for the Government to deliver the £500million Youth Investment Fund, which they promised in the 2019 manifesto, to rescue the sector.
The charity also called for a youth worker qualified in mental health first aid to work in every youth organisation to deal with the after-effects of the pandemic.
Rosemary Watt-Wyness, chief executive of London Youth said: “This has been a very difficult year for young Londoners and the organisations that support them.
“This pandemic has proven how much young people need the trusted relationships and support that they get from youth work. Given that young Londoners are facing such a range of complex challenges to being happy, healthy, safe and skilled, it is unthinkable that funding continues to be cut from youth service budgets.
“All young Londoners, no matter where they live, should be able to rely on high-quality youth services in their community.”
