Uncertain futures

Catch the Drift, 256 2940, will continue to work with excluded young people for the next couple of months and hope for continuation through placements from schools and a partnership with the Council’s Children & Young People’s Directorate (CYPD). Anna Revill, development worker, said Catch the Drift agreed with New Deal that CYPD should fund the education of excluded children but felt New Deal could have done more to get CYPD to recognise the voluntary and community sector as partners. Anna said: “they missed that opportunity and seem to have dismissed us. Given the number of referrals we receive, what will happen to excluded young people now?”

Burngreave Domestic Abuse Project, 272 6021, are still running but funding ceases in July. The project told us: “We have been very proactive in seeking funding from charities, but having no core revenue funding is working against us”. Referrals are still coming through, but if no funding is found by July they will be passed to other domestic abuse services in Manor and Parson Cross. They added: “It’s a shame because our service has taken a long time to become established and get a reputation.”