Story: Saleema Imam and Lisa Swift
More than 150 residents, mainly young people, attended Burngreave Community Action Forum's public meeting on 11th December 2010, to hear from young people's services about the impact of cuts so far.
Joanne Holt from Sheffield Futures, said;
“There have been cuts in our funding, and we have lost permanent workers, but we have aimed to protect front line work. In Burngreave All Saints Centre will now open three nights instead of four, other centres will remain open as before.”
Jenny Tibbles, from Ellesmere Youth Project, explained how youth work could become more ‘targeted’, rather then being open to all and voluntary groups could see funding change, “We might see companies and larger organisations chasing the same funding and competing with projects run by local people.”
Tony Tweedy, representing Children and Young Peoples Service, explained that some education money will be diverted from the Council into schools, at the same time the Council faced funding cuts, so they would have less power to help after school activities and Study Support.
Abtisam Mohammed, local resident and Programme Director of the Yemeni Community Association, talked passionately against the cuts,
“We have come a long way, Burngreave has seen a massive increase in young people going to university, up 139% in the last ten years. Projects like study support have had a big impact. But we can't be complacent. We have to fight cuts for young people in our area, who are some of the most vulnerable.”
Young people asked why education was not a priority, and how they were meant to stay in education and achieve good results without study support and EMA. Residents called on the Council to prioritise young people, and for there to be a campaign against cuts.
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