Sam Rushworth MP issues plea to support youth services
Bishop Auckland MP Sam Rushworth said today’s younger generation has been “robbed of the opportunities that it deserves” as opportunities and facilities aimed at young people diminish.
MPs warned the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the Covid pandemic posed significant challenges on young people’s futures.
Labour’s Sam Rushworth said youth services being cut by 80 per cent between 2010 and 2020 in County Durham should act as a wake up call for the Government.
He added: “It is no wonder that one in eight young people are not in education, employment or training, that we have a five-year waiting list for CAMHS and that one in five people have a mental health condition. That has to change.”
The MP urged the Government to “get to grips” with the issue, but criticised the Conservative Party’s management of the economy and cuts to budgets.
“This generation has been robbed of the opportunities that it deserves,” he said.
“Let us think about the record of the last Government: child trust funds were cut, Sure Start centres were closed, school budgets were cut in real terms, playing fields were sold off, and free swimming, the education maintenance allowance and Connexions were cut. That is terrible.
“This will take funding and legislative change on statutory duty, because we cannot allow this generation to be wasted. We owe it to this generation to keep the promise of Britain that it will do better, not worse, than our generation.”
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Despite the concerns, he paid tribute to parents and highlighted the work of the Auckland Youth and Community Centre as an example of local organisations stepping up to provide key services.
Culture minister Stephanie Peacock said: “We need a long-term national direction – that is why we are developing a new 10-year national youth strategy.
“This will set out a clear vision for how we support young people now and in the future. The strategy will guide work across Government departments, it will help make sure policies and services that affect young people are better joined up. It will also move us away from a one-size-fits-all approach.”