Youth funding must be sustained, not just a one-off gimmick for election year - Pidgeon

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 20th Sep 2007

Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon says young Londoners need a sustained commitment to funding local youth services

Whilst welcoming today's announcement by the Mayor and Government of one-off extra funding to support local councils' youth work in the Capital, Liberal Democrats have called for the Mayor to make this funding permanent, not just a one-off funding package over the next couple of years.

Liberal Democrat GLA candidate and Children's Service Cabinet member in Southwark, Cllr Caroline Pidgeon said:

"We welcome more funding for our on-going work with young people, but London's young people will be just as in need of these services in two years time when this money will have run out and there won't be an election coming up.

"What young Londoners need is a sustained commitment to funding local youth services, not just one-off funding for an election year. "

ENDS

Notes to editors

The funding announced today is a short-term funding package of £60m spread over 2008/9 and 2009/10 and therefore councils will not be able to use the money to support new permanent youth provision.